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Russian nominee PM hints at presidency
By Sebastian Smith
AFP
MOSCOW
Petroleumworld.com 09 14 07
Russia's newly nominated prime minister, Viktor Zubkov, challenged his image as a political nobody by making the surprise hint Thursday that he may seek to succeed President Vladimir Putin in upcoming elections.
"If I get something done here, in this post of prime minister, then I do not exclude that," Zubkov said when asked if he would become president, while he visited parliament for talks with deputies.
He added that in all his other posts, ranging from Soviet state farms to the financial crimes investigation agency, which he currently heads, he had always "got something done".
Zubkov was nominated Wednesday by Putin to replace premier Mikhail Fradkov. The Kremlin-controlled parliament was expected to approve his candidacy on Friday.
The reshuffle sparked intense speculation over who will be the Kremlin candidate in presidential elections on March 2, 2008. Putin is required by the constitution to step down, having held the maximum two consecutive terms.
Few Russians have ever heard of Zubkov, who turns 66 on Saturday, and he had never spoken of presidential ambitions.
Putin on Thursday explained the shake-up as a way of keeping officials in line during the election season, which starts with parliamentary polls on December 2.
"Of course it's hard to concentrate," Putin said in comments broadcast on state television. "I mean that there is some uncertainty over what will happen to each individual person, how the system of power and rule of the country will be built after the elections."
It was a rare acknowledgement of the concern felt in many parts of Russia over the possible fallout of Putin's departure.
With less than six months to go, not one political heavyweight has declared his candidacy for the presidential election.
Analysts believe the poll will be won by whoever has the backing of Putin and the all-powerful state media machine. Putin has so far refused to say whom he favours.
Russian newspapers reported that German Gref, the economic development and trade minister, was among those who might lose their jobs in a limited reshuffle.
Meanwhile, Zubkov gathered overwhelming support for his candidacy ahead of Friday's vote in the lower house of parliament.
Leaders of the pro-Kremlin parties United Russia and A Just Russia, as well as the nationalist Liberal Democratic Party, pledged their support, RIA Novosti reported.
The Communists, who are in a minority in parliament, said they opposed Zubkov.
Zubkov said he would inform parliament of his priorities in the spheres of regional development, industry and relations with business.
Putin's nomination of Zubkov surprised many who had been expecting him to name a more prominent figure, such as first deputy premier Sergei Ivanov, to the post, with a view to grooming him for the presidency.
Some analysts see Zubkov as a caretaker figure installed to ensure loyalty to Putin and prevent the Kremlin leader from becoming a lame duck in the last months of his second term.
Others believe that Putin may ease Zubkov, or another bureaucrat, into the presidency before returning to power himself at a later date, thereby getting around the constitutional term limit.
Vladimir Zhirinovsky, veteran leader of the right-wing Liberal Democratic Party, predicted that Zubkov was more than a transitional figure and would serve as prime minister under the next president.
"The most unexpected candidate will be put forward two days before the close of registration" to stand for the presidency, Zhirinovsky was quoted as saying by online newspaper gazeta.ru.
"Zubkov will serve as his prime minister for five years."
AFP 13 1557 GMT 09 07
Copyright© 2007 Petroleumworld. All rights reserved.
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