| The President and the Government have figured out how to reassure beneficiaries A week after the start of mass protests by pensioners dissatisfied with the reform of social benefits, the president and the government developed the first measures that, in their opinion, would reduce the intensity of passions. The main goal of normalizing the situation is an early increase in pensions - by about 240 rubles. from March 1st. In addition, a political decision was made to essentially equalize federal and regional beneficiaries when providing them with urban transport services. A specific mechanism for how to do this is expected to be developed in the next 10-12 days.
Yesterday, Vladimir Putin, at the first traditional Monday meeting of the new year with members of the Cabinet of Ministers, identified the culprits of the mass protests: the government and regional leadership. True, there was no harsh criticism of the perpetrators, followed by personnel conclusions. “The government and the regions have not fully fulfilled the task that we talked about: so that, when making decisions, they do not worsen the situation of those who need state help,” Putin said.
At the same time, the president does not question the reform itself. On the contrary, for the first time the head of state began to defend monetization with arguments. Putin’s logic is as follows: after the collapse of the USSR, the new Russian state, by significantly expanding the categories of beneficiaries, “covered up its failure in the economic and social sphere.” As a result, more than 50% of the population was classified as beneficiaries. “This means that less than half of the population had to pay in practice for transport services in large cities and cities with a population of over a million.” Large-scale government subsidies could not correct the situation, because, firstly, they were not enough, and secondly, they were spent ineffectively. The result is a deterioration in the condition of transport, a decrease in the quality of service, and an increase in tariffs. “This caused dissatisfaction among everyone,” the president stated.
At the same time, making an excursion into history, the president generously warned members of the cabinet of ministers: “The government today had to be ready to criticize both left and right parties, which created, on the one hand, the oligarchic system in Russia and allowed the national wealth to be stolen, and on the other hand, they made popular but absolutely impossible decisions or contributed to their adoption.”
The example given by the head of state from the transport sector is not accidental. It was the abolition of free travel that became the main reason for pensioners taking to the streets. “Suddenly” it turned out that the compensation intended for them did not cover the cost of purchasing a monthly travel ticket. However, in fairness, it should be noted that the blame for the error in calculations lies not only with government officials: since the new year, in many regions, prices for travel on public transport have increased sharply. According to the president, this problem can be solved by providing beneficiaries with travel tickets for a month. Moreover, their cost should not exceed the amount of compensation. “This is the simplest and most understandable solution. Any citizen can decide: either to buy a travel document, which he will use for a month on all types of urban transport, or to keep the money if he does not travel so intensively,” Putin said. At the same time, he considered it right to compensate the regions from the federal budget for the losses they would incur by paying for travel documents for federal beneficiaries.
One of the likely authors of the unpopular reform, Minister of Health and Social Development Mikhail Zurabov, took the rap for the government at the meeting with the president. He announced an increase in pensions not from April 1, as previously planned, but from March 1 - “by approximately 240 rubles.” It is noteworthy that at the end of last week there was talk of increasing pensions by only 100 rubles. (the leadership of the United Russia party agreed with the government on this). However, the president was not satisfied with this amount, which he said at yesterday’s meeting in the Kremlin.
Mr. Zurabov also reported on the “medicinal” component of the reform. According to him, all regions of Russia are provided with the most important medicines for two months in advance and “there are no disruptions in the supply of vital drugs now.” The emphasis is on drugs such as insulins, bronchodilators, antidepressants (they, apparently, should help especially nervous beneficiaries) and drugs for the treatment of oncological diseases. In addition, a financial reserve of 250 million rubles has been created, which, if necessary, will be used for the uninterrupted supply of medicines and medicines to the regions.
Mr. Zurabov also tried to calm down the rebels and at the same time the president by reporting unprecedented successes in the sanatorium and resort treatment of beneficiaries. According to the minister, in the president’s homeland, St. Petersburg, the number of vouchers has increased tenfold: “This year, 52 thousand vouchers have already been issued!” In turn, Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin reported to the president that there is enough money in the federal treasury to help in the fight to monetize benefits for the most subsidized regions.
The first consequences of monetization were discussed yesterday in the White House. Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov said at the beginning of the discussion: “We must not only calm the situation, but also ensure that the laws are implemented.” He emphasized that he would not blame the regional authorities for everything that is happening, “although there is such a temptation.” “Most regions took into account the government’s recommendations. We are ready to help those who are underestimated,” the prime minister noted. As for the responsibility of the cabinet itself, Mr. Fradkov was extremely honest: “The government is responsible for everything in the country, and we are ready to bear this responsibility.”
Alexei Kudrin, who has recently been actively advocating for ministers to play a significant political role, has proven to be extremely consistent in this intention. Speaking about the problems of monetizing benefits, he suggested looking at them politically. By increasing pensions, relieve social tension with benefits. The Minister of Finance talked for a long time about the fact that the pension had depreciated, that “we must stay ahead of inflation,” and “develop a strategy for the next four years, including 2008.” In general, Mr. Kudrin made it clear that the problem of the 2008 presidential elections, the solution of which depends, among other things, on such a large group of the population as pensioners, should be solved by all possible means.
Economic Development Minister German Gref began to argue with the Minister of Finance (also by tradition). He stated that raising pensions (in addition to the planned increase of 40 billion rubles) by another 40 billion would not solve the problems associated with the monetization of benefits. Stressing that “the government cannot stop monetization - it must go to the end,” the country’s chief economist suggested calculating options for using, for example, 40 billion rubles. to compensate local transport costs for citizens. He also demanded a decision be made regarding 16 regions that have not introduced monetization and continue to profess the principle of natural benefits.
The President of Tatarstan, Mintimer Shaimiev, immediately advised Mr. Gref to go to the rally. But, despite the frightening prospect of “standing with your chest on the barricades,” the majority of cabinet members and plenipotentiary representatives decided to move on with “mistakes and bumps.” “I am confident that the reform will have a positive effect in just a few months,” said the Prime Minister. “We just need to add economic content,” Mr. Fradkov concluded, looking at the representatives of armchair economic thought with some impatience. As if he wanted to demand the immediate deciphering of the “black boxes” - the thoughts of ministers Kudrin and Gref, in order to finally extract the long-awaited economic content from there.
YOUR OPINION Vera KUZNETSOVA, Mikhail VOROBYEV |
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