Right off the bat

Vladimir Putin ordered ministers not to notice the presidential elections

Having decided on a successor , the president devoted the traditional Monday meeting with members of the cabinet to a natural topic: how to convince ministers not to stop working during the “interregnum.”

After United Russia's presidential candidacy, supported by three other parties, was announced yesterday, public interest has focused on the question of what the current head of state will do after the end of his second presidential term. Vladimir Putin has already said that he does not intend to leave Russian politics. True, he still refrains from answering who he sees himself after First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev becomes president. “There are different options,” he said during a campaign trip to Krasnoyarsk in mid-November, when he urged citizens to vote for United Russia in the Duma elections, being number one on its federal list.

Yesterday there was no further clarity on this issue, although the president made it clear that he would influence the careers of government members even after the March elections. “Your professional and administrative future depends on how you work,” Vladimir Putin warned ministers at a traditional meeting with key cabinet members.

“I would like to draw your attention: despite all the electoral experiences and all the processes that are associated with it, let me remind you that the government must work like a good clock, rhythmically ensuring the functioning of all state mechanisms, and not succumb to any fluctuations associated with political events within the country.” , added the head of state.

At the same time, President Putin has no doubt that Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov will be a good “watchmaker” who will not allow the government to lose its rhythm and succumb to unregulated fluctuations. “I know Viktor Alekseevich Zubkov as an experienced person, a good administrator. I'm sure he will do everything necessary. But this is also the responsibility of all members of the government,” Mr. Putin said, addressing the ministers.

Meanwhile, it may happen that Viktor Zubkov’s prime ministerial career will end immediately after the elections. Today, no one can rule out the possibility that Vladimir Putin will decide to head the government (perhaps with a certain adjustment in the powers of the Cabinet of Ministers). As you know, it was the post of prime minister that the president was offered to occupy at the pre-election congress of United Russia on October 1. And Mr. Putin did not refuse. “Heading the government is a completely realistic proposal. But it’s too early to think about this, because this requires at least two conditions: first, United Russia must win the elections to the State Duma on December 2 of this year, and second, a decent, capable, capable person must be elected president of the country. an effective, modern person with whom one could work together,” the president said then.

The first condition has been met, the second will clearly be fulfilled on March 2. It is unlikely that the president considers Dmitry Medvedev to not meet the listed criteria.

Mikhail VOROBYEV