The Media Mirror: what's in today's Russian newspapers?
After United Russia's landslide victory in parliamentary elections, most of Wednesday’s Russian newspapers publish opinions from local and foreign experts on the future of the country.
VEDOMOSTI asks Russian experts how Vladimir Putin is going to use the fruits of his victory?
Olga Kryshtanovskaya from the Institute of Practical Politics says: “I would call the scenario 'Chairman Mao'. Power will become subject to party membership, the new President and Prime minister will be party people. One thing I’m not certain of – how will the party control the state without amending the Constitution?”
Viacheslav Nikonov from the the Politika Foundation: “Sooner or later Putin will be back in power, I’m nearly sure of that. It’s not important what Churchill was in different times of his life – he was Churchill.”
Stanislav Belkovsky, Institute of National Strategy: “I’m sure Putin won’t stay in power. His power now is institutional, as it has always been in Russia: power was in the hands of a President or a Monarch. He becomes a Duma member for his own safety, so no one can blame him for the negative consequences of his presidency, if they happen.”
ROSSIYSKAYA GAZETA sat two well-known experts around a table. Gleb Pavlovsky said: “The immediate task for Putin and United Russia is, in a sense, to form their relationship anew. I think the President may take upon himself the preparation of the next party congress and the selection of the new party leadership.” Vitaly Tretyakov says: “What is awaiting us in the near future? Christmas and the name of the successor.”
Publisher and Chief editor of NEZAVISIMAYA GAZETA Konstantin Remchukov writes: “For the more sophisticated members of the electorate, the election’s agenda looked strangely primitive: for Putin, against Putin. That made for the low turnout in the two Capitals – Moscow and St.Petersburg. Liberal right-wing parties lost entirely. That means for the next four years about 10% of the Russian population – those who stand for a pure market economy and liberal democracy – will have no representation. It also means that United Russia’s own right-wing headed by Putin will have to step in to protect the state budget from swelling beyond recognition.”
ROSSIYSKAYA GAZETA has an article by the German Russia watcher Alexander Rahr, who writes: “The West is convinced that Putin will stay in power, most probably as the party leader of United Russia. Then Russia will be ruled in tandem: by a party President and United Russia with Putin at the helm. This situation looks favourable.”
