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Annointed President D. Medvedev an hour ago announced that he pleads<\/strong> for Vladimir Putin<\/span> to accept the office of Head of Government in case he’ll get elected President in March (it was not Putin who stated the he will actually accept such an offer). However, I consider it highly unlikely that this scenario will actually unfold. What then is the aim of Medvedev\u2019s announcement?<\/span><\/p>\n The first reason is to send a signal to the siloviki and chekisty camp defeated by Putin\u2019s decision to support Medvedev\u2019s candidacy. This camp is the loser of recent developments. It had supported a third term for Vladimir Putin, even had tried to pressurize him to stay in power. To prevent even more cadre instability – more arrests, more public infighting, more violent clashes in suburb dachas – , the announcement to keep Putin within the echelons of power might aim to placate the losers and signal them continuity as regards the siloviki\u2019s perks and privileges.<\/p>\n A much more important reason for Medvedev\u2019s announcement is to stage an electoral ploy. Putin and he thereby give a signal to the voters which is: \u2018If you elect Medvedev, you\u2019ll get Putin too\u2019. Given the immense popularity of Vladimir Putin this trick will easily catapult Medvedev into the Kremlin. I consider it highly unlikely though that Putin will accept becoming Head of Government.<\/p>\n Why is that? Well, read in my next blog entry.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Annointed President D. Medvedev an hour ago announced that he pleads for Vladimir Putin to accept the office of Head of Government in case he’ll get elected President in March (it was not Putin who stated the he will actually accept such an offer). However, I consider it highly unlikely that this scenario will actually … Continue reading Medvedev and Putin: an odd couple<\/span>