The start of "Operation Successor 2008"

[occuserpens]

Medvedev to succeed Putin?

Recently, Gazprom chairman Medvedev and Defence Minister Ivanov were promoted to 1st Vice-PMs. This is generally considered as a first major step of "operation successor" which is supposed to transfer power from Putin to the next Russain president. As lenta.ru pointed out, Ivanov is not likely to be the one, he cannot claim that Russian military reform is successful under his leadership. Now it looks like Medvedev will succeed Putin.

Now the question is, how these changes will affect the balance of power between conservatives and neoliberals in Russian leadership.
Also, multiplication of first vice-PMs does not look particularly healthy: three (another one is Zhukov) is really troo much, this reflects political uncertainty.

1. Peter Lavelle. The start of "Operation Successor 2008": http://www.untimely-thoughts.com/index.html?cat=4&type=3&art=2059
The promotion of Dmitry Medvedev as First Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov’s elevation to Deputy Prime Minister strongly suggests that the Kremlin has put into play its plan to anoint a compromise candidate to succeed Vladimir Putin in 2008. That person is, most likely, Dmitry Medvedev.
So, if you are tired of seeing Putin on the nightly news, get ready and get used to seeing Medvedev’s face.

2. FT. Arkady Ostrovsky. Putin ally in prime position to take over: http://news.ft.com/cms/s/63f09d08-5543-11da-8a74-00000e25118c.html

3. Lenta. Autumn marathon: http://lenta.ru/articles/2005/11/14/change/