Translated material
"We have nothing better"
Vladimir Putin promised the foreman of the climbers to continue leading the country
President Vladimir Putin's working trip to Krasnoyarsk brought closer the answer to the most pressing question for modern Russia - what will happen to the country after March 2008. The President dispelled doubts: the victory of United Russia means an expression of confidence in him, Vladimir Putin . And this means that he “will have the moral right” to hold everyone in the Duma and in the government accountable for the implementation of the decisions made. At the same time, according to him, there are several different options for exactly how he can do this. True, to find out which option turns out to be Putin’s real plan, you will have to be patient."Crafts attach themselves to such structures"
The moment of truth came during an inspection of the bypass road junction under construction around Krasnoyarsk. The hero of the day, the person who pushed the president to a frank answer, was the foreman of the climbers, Viktor Galyshev. He said that on December 2 he would vote for United Russia and Putin. And then, recalling that the Constitution prohibits the president from remaining for a third term in a row , he asked about his future fate, inquiring for what purpose Mr. Putin decided to head the election list of the United Russia party. The president's response was detailed and frank.
“In Soviet times, it was not for nothing that they were called that, we all believed that the main link of power was the Soviets. But that was not the case. The main decisions were made in city committees, district committees and the Central Committee. Nobody knew these people. Now the situation is radically different,” Vladimir Putin outlined the current political situation to the builders. “What is United Russia? Is it an ideal political structure? - the president asked himself a question. The answer probably could have stunned numerous members and supporters of the party in power: “Of course not,” he said. — There is no stable ideology or principles for which the overwhelming majority are ready to fight. But nevertheless , United Russia is close to power, both federal and local . Crooks attach themselves to such structures, and they partially succeed. And with such activities they compromise the party.”
“So why did I need to lead it?” - the president returned to the question of foreman Viktor Galyshev. “We have nothing better,” he had already summed up the entire Russian political system, but immediately softened. “As for me personally, from time immemorial, as they said, victory is not for those who have power, but for those who have truth. Now, if people vote for United Russia, the list of which I head, this means that they trust me ", said the President.
“If I managed to do something, and some of it was possible, it was largely because I relied on United Russia.” That is why I, despite all the costs, including for myself personally, led the party in order to convince people to vote for it and create a parliamentary majority,” the president explained.
It is known that, contrary to expectations, Vladimir Putin’s decision to head the federal list of United Russia did not lead to a sharp surge in the party’s popularity. Perhaps people simply did not fully understand what the president wanted to tell them with this step. Now Vladimir Putin has expressed himself very clearly. At the same time, the president explained that if United Russia wins the elections, he has the moral right to ask the State Duma and the government for the implementation of the decisions that are planned today. “In what form will I do this? I will refrain from giving a direct answer for now, but there are various options,” the president noted and added, turning to Mr. Galyshev: “And to you for wanting to vote for United Russia.” , Thank you".
There is no doubt that other political parties will consider this speech by the president to be a full-fledged election campaign. The Central Election Commission yesterday did not comment to Vremya Novostey whether, for example, the phrase “if people vote for United Russia, the list of which I head, this means that they trust me” is campaigning for the party and for himself. Meanwhile, on October 1, after Vladimir Putin topped the United Russia list right at the party congress, Central Election Commission member Maya Grishina outlined the boundaries of what is allowed to the president if he becomes a candidate for deputy. “In this situation, when the president is running as a candidate, he has the legal right to retain his powers as president,” Ms. Grishina explained to Interfax. “At the same time, the election legislation does not require the president to go on vacation. As a person holding a public office , the president is prohibited from using the advantages of his official position for the purpose of electing or achieving a certain result in elections. The law prohibits campaigning while performing his duties. In addition, it is prohibited to involve his subordinates during their working hours to conduct an election campaign.” This time, the CEC did not give an explanation, noting, however, that they are ready to consider complaints from political parties if they are received.
The President devoted the rest of the day to other topics. The two main Russian problems were discussed - fools and roads. Or, in formal language, the quality of education and transport strategy. At a meeting at the Siberian Federal University, they discussed how to make a qualitative leap in Russian education, and at a meeting of the Presidium of the State Council, they discussed the development of transport infrastructure.
The meeting on education issues took place in the building of the Siberian Federal University. The Siberian University in Krasnoyarsk and the Southern Federal University in Rostov-on-Don are experimental projects in the field of education. Each of them was created at the beginning of this year on the basis of four “simple” universities, and each received unprecedented funding by Russian standards. This year, 5.5 billion rubles have been allocated from the federal budget for two universities. Next year’s budget plans to reach 4.7 billion. For this money, they should return Russian education and science to their former prestige, not only within the country, but throughout the world. “I expect that not only will Russian specialists who once left the USSR or Russia return to us, but also foreigners will come,” Vladimir Putin said at the meeting.
Governor of the Krasnoyarsk Territory Alexander Khloponin did not hide his joy. “If I had to make a choice between the development project of the Lower Angara region, the construction of an air hub in Krasnoyarsk or a federal university, I would choose the university. This is a very strong magnet that attracts young people to Siberia,” Mr. Khloponin was proud. ( Fortunately for the governor, life did not put him in front of such a choice , providing him with financial opportunities to implement all three projects.)
Representatives of the two “magnets” thanked them for the high level of trust placed in them and carefully hinted at their needs that required additional funding. The money issue even became the subject of a dispute between them and Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin. “There is one danger that we will get beacons that cannot be replicated. We will not be able to double funding for all universities,” he said. The President responded to this very figuratively: “Alexey Leonidovich showed us his love for education. But love and money are incompatible.”
However, the president is convinced that universities themselves are able to earn a comfortable living. Private companies will be happy to increase funding provided that universities train the specialists they need. “A situation must arise when business says: we have brains and money, you have brains and time. Prepare a group of specialists for us,” the president outlined the bright future of Russian education. “But for this we need to not only follow business, but also get ahead of it. For example, the topic of alternative biofuels is now popular in the world,” the president suggested. And there are dozens, if not hundreds, of such areas that, in his words, will allow all students to become billionaires, like Bill Gates, in the medium-term development strategy of Russia until 2020.
However, the meeting participants failed to get promises from Mr. Kudrin to increase funding. He only promised to consider the possibility of introducing amendments to the Budget Code that would allow donor regions to invest more in financing education themselves. The Minister of Finance tried to share his impressions of visiting a prestigious American university, but was not very successful in this. “It’s impossible to get there...” Mr. Kudrin began his story. "Why? - the president became keenly interested. - Is there no road?
...The second event of the presidential program - a meeting of the Presidium of the State Council - was dedicated to roads. All its participants unanimously agreed that there are absolutely not enough roads and other transport infrastructure in Russia. “It is transport, along with energy, that is becoming a real factor constraining economic growth,” the president said. “For the rapid development of transport infrastructure, the measures already proposed are not enough,” he emphasized. The President drew special attention to the need to find an optimal combination of domestic and interregional transportation. Two-thirds of all passenger traffic in Russia passes through Moscow, the president noted. Regarding the transport collapse that threatens large Russian cities, Vladimir Putin proposed paying special attention to the development of off-street urban transport - metro, high-speed trams, etc.
Transport Minister Igor Levitin, in turn, complained that the construction of commercial housing is being carried out without taking into account transport infrastructure. He proposed adjusting the transport strategy and extending its validity until 2030. The State Council agreed with him. The President noted with satisfaction: “Today we discussed not problems of survival, but problems of development.”