It is necessary to institute the post of vice president in Russia, which should be taken by Dmitry Medvedev, Director of the Institute of Modern Development (INSOR) Igor Yurgens proposed. In his view, only in this case the country’s political system will be stable, and Medvedev will retain the chances for political survival and will be able to really form the legislative and judicial systems.
Yurgens told Izvestiya that it would be “counterproductive” for Medvedev to be a prime minister under Putin, as he will be lost there and surpassed by the “prominent vivid personalities” - Vice Prime Ministers Dmitry Rogozin and Vladislav Surkov.
Yurgens told Nezavisimaya Gazeta that “there are several high-ranking people who understand” the sense of his proposal.
According to Yurgens, it is disadvantageous for Medvedev to be a prime minister, the newspaper continues. Because it is clear from the agenda declared by Putin that it is unlikely that “modernisation will be continued.” Putin chosen a hard line scenario, which was demonstrated by Russia’s veto on the UN resolution on Syria, Yurgens claims. Yurgens proposed a more acceptable option for Medvedev - vice presidency, supervising the modernisation sphere. He is not too worried with the technical aspect of the issue. The vice president’s post is not provided for by the first chapter of the Constitution, which cannot be changed by simple amendments without convening the Constitutional Assembly, the law on which has not been adopted for almost 20 years. “When it was necessary to extend the presidency term, the Constitution was changed very quickly,” Yurgens said. So, in his opinion, it is necessary to reach an agreement in principle, and the rest will follow.
The party leaders regarded Yurgens’ idea as a manifestation of his personal defeat after he categorically staked on Medvedev. Deputy head of A Just Russia faction in the RF parliament Mikhail Yemelyanov did not rule out that Medvedev also has doubts now about whether he should join the government. Because after the current political crisis there will be “the economic and social crisis.” Yemelyanov doubts that Medvedev would want to be responsible for all this.
Vice President of the Centre for Political Technologies Rostislav Turovsky, quoted by Nezavisimaya Gazeta, concedes that the statement made by Yurgens sounds normal. Because the problem of Medvedev’s future really exists: “To all appearances, the situation has seriously changed since September 24, and the reshuffle that was announced then has now become unlikely.” Moreover, the expert insists, it is so from the viewpoint of both of the tandem members. Obviously, Putin wants to have tighter control of the government, and Medvedev’s autonomy will be an obstacle for him.
As for the post of vice president, its creation is unlikely, the expert believes. Because people in Russia very well remember how in 1993 Vice President Alexander Rutskoi actually headed a rebellion against President Boris Yeltsin. Turovsky doubts that Medvedev should seek a “high state post” at all. Because the main problem for him, if he continues his political career, is a low rating in the society. So, he should upgrade his rating as the leader of a non-governmental organisation.
Chairman of the Board of the Centre for Political Technologies Boris Makarenko, quoted by Vedomosti, is certain that it is “virtually impossible” to establish the post of vice president in Russia, because it is not provided for in the Constitution.
Komsomolskaya Pravda quotes Russia’s first Vice President Alexander Rutskoi: “Apparently, Yurgens has caught some virus. Before putting forward such initiatives to the public, he should have at least referred to the Constitution... According to the Constitution, there is no such post. It was abolished in 1993.”