Comments on: Medvedev's speech – world misses point http://siberianlight.net/russia-president-term-six-years/ The Russia Blog Thu, 19 Apr 2012 13:30:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Dmitry Medvedev http://siberianlight.net/russia-president-term-six-years/comment-page-1/#comment-1799 Dmitry Medvedev Sun, 09 Nov 2008 03:31:58 +0000 http://www.siberianlight.net/?p=1584#comment-1799 "Presidential election" has a slightly different meaning in Russia, as you can see from this billboard: http://ipicture.ru/Gallery/Viewfull/8918992.html “Presidential election” has a slightly different meaning in Russia, as you can see from this billboard:

http://ipicture.ru/Gallery/Viewfull/8918992.html

]]> By: Dmitry Medvedev http://siberianlight.net/russia-president-term-six-years/comment-page-1/#comment-1798 Dmitry Medvedev Sun, 09 Nov 2008 03:30:55 +0000 http://www.siberianlight.net/?p=1584#comment-1798 Indeed, why to waste time and money on "presidential elections"? By extending the Presidential term to 6 years I will save a great deal of money for our budget. The main point of my address was that I did what no President has ever done before. Indeed, why to waste time and money on “presidential elections”? By extending the Presidential term to 6 years I will save a great deal of money for our budget. The main point of my address was that I did what no President has ever done before.

]]> By: Aleks http://siberianlight.net/russia-president-term-six-years/comment-page-1/#comment-1797 Aleks Wed, 05 Nov 2008 16:19:59 +0000 http://www.siberianlight.net/?p=1584#comment-1797 Or, if real power is being shifted to the role of the PM and MPs and the President it being stripped and becoming more of a ceremonial function. Otherwise, this news doesn't really matter as there still does not seem to be a clear definition of powers between PM and P, at least in the western media. Could it actually be real reform? If we see that elections for regional governors is to be reinstated , then is seems that it would be the latter, i.e. the regions have been 'cleaned up' (through Putin's delegated governors) and can be trusted to run themselves properly. Considering the Kremlin's almost total domination of politics and control of the Duma, why exactly should they be afraid of more elections? Is there some new trend? A rebuilt ?????? or any other kind of real challenge? I prefer to remain a little more open minded if not only because it is far too easy to make the same assumptions as before. I find it hard to believe that <i>this is it</i> for Russia, i.e. no further real political development or maturity. Or, if real power is being shifted to the role of the PM and MPs and the President it being stripped and becoming more of a ceremonial function.

Otherwise, this news doesn’t really matter as there still does not seem to be a clear definition of powers between PM and P, at least in the western media.

Could it actually be real reform?

If we see that elections for regional governors is to be reinstated , then is seems that it would be the latter, i.e. the regions have been ‘cleaned up’ (through Putin’s delegated governors) and can be trusted to run themselves properly.

Considering the Kremlin’s almost total domination of politics and control of the Duma, why exactly should they be afraid of more elections? Is there some new trend? A rebuilt ?????? or any other kind of real challenge? I prefer to remain a little more open minded if not only because it is far too easy to make the same assumptions as before. I find it hard to believe that this is it for Russia, i.e. no further real political development or maturity.

]]> By: Tom Adshead http://siberianlight.net/russia-president-term-six-years/comment-page-1/#comment-1796 Tom Adshead Wed, 05 Nov 2008 15:13:57 +0000 http://www.siberianlight.net/?p=1584#comment-1796 Fully agree – the Russian market dropped over 5% on the news of the increased term.
The other thing that really struck me was that Medvedev made this speech on the day Obama got elected. I really think that they understand that Russians will understand that something momentous has changed in America, and that nothing has changed in Russia. As always, though, the Kremlin is so ham-fisted, that it has no idea what message it’s sending, and Medvedev will just look weak by comparison with Obama.

Tom Adshead´s last blog post..Medvedev’s Presidential Address

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