New faces dominate Cabinet
Yulia Ponomareva - Moscow News - themoscownews.com - 5.21.12 - JRL 2012-93
President Vladimir Putin on Monday kept his promise to make sweeping changes to the Cabinet, replacing three-quarters of the ministers and giving promotions to officials from Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev's team.
However, Putin kept a firm grip on key posts, starting with longtime ally Igor Shuvalov, who will be the Cabinet's only first deputy prime minister.
Speaking at a televised government session Monday, flanked by a cheery-looking Medvedev, Putin introduced the new Cabinet, which will consist of seven deputy prime ministers plus 21 ministers.
Shuvalov, who was in charge of Putin's major development project, Strategy 2020, as well as Russia's post-recessionary restoration, will not be joined by the outgoing other first deputy prime minister, Viktor Zubkov. Zubkov, who oversaw the economic ministries, failed to find his way into the new Cabinet.
Big role for Dvorkovich
Zubkov's functions will be assumed by Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich, who used to be Medvedev's aide.
"Dvorkovich, who often criticized Zubkov's approach, is now taking over the oil and gas and mining industries, agriculture and transportation from him, which strengthens Medvedev's clout in the government," Olga Mefodyeva, an analyst with the Center for Political Technologies, told The Moscow News.
Deputy Prime Ministers Vladislav Surkov, Dmitry Kozak, Dmitry Rogozin and Alexander Khloponin, all believed to belong to Putin's team, have remained in their posts. Khloponin will also keep the post of presidential envoy to the North Caucasus.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin's deputy for health and education, Olga Golodets, has been promoted to deputy prime minister.
Sechin out
Apart from Viktor Zubkov, Igor Sechin has lost his post as deputy prime minister. The resignation of Russia's oil tsar was expected, however.
Sechin was on his way out after Vladimir Putin appointed him to the board of state-run Rosneftegaz, which holds 75.16 percent of Rosneft, Russia's leading oil company.
This was timed to coincide with one of the last decrees of then-President Medvedev, who late last month ordered that officials should leave the boards of staterun companies within three years.
Far East ministry
Putin has created a new Ministry for the Development of the Far East, to be headed by Viktor Ishayev, the current envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District.
This falls in line with Putin's plans, announced in April, to create a special economic and taxation zone in the region.
Another new ministry is that in charge of relations with Medvedev's open government, a discussion platform for experts and public figures selected by Medvedev. The ministry will be headed by the coordinator of the open government project, Mikhail Abyzov.
No change at Finance
Anton Siluanov, who has largely followed the policies of his predecessor, Alexei Kudrin, will retain the Finance Ministry portfolio. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Justice Minister Alexander Konovalov will remain in the new government as well.
Andrei Belousov, one of the most experienced government officials, will replace Elvira Nabiullina at the head of the Economic Development Ministry. Earlier this month Nabiullina made it clear that she is tired of working in the government and that she is planning to quit.
Nurgaliyev sacked
One of the most controversial members of Putin's cabinet, Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev, has been replaced by Moscow police chief Vladimir Kolokoltsev.
"Kolokoltsev is more likely to find common language with Medvedev," Olga Mefodyeva said.
Another controversial figure, Education and Science Minister Andrei Fursenko, has been replaced by rector of the Moscow Institute of Steel and Alloys Dmitry Livanov.
A completely new name in the government is that of political analyst and historian Vladimir Medinsky, who took the post of Culture Minister. Medinsky has been on the board of United Russia but never worked in the government before.
New appointments also include Maxim Topilin and Veronika Skvortsova, deputies of Health and Social Development Minister Tatyana Golikova, who was not included in the new cabinet.
Golikova's ministry has been split into two, with Topilin put in charge of labor and social security, and Skvortsova in charge of healthcare.
Igor Levitin has been replaced by Maxim Sokolov as transportation minister, and Yelena Skrynnik with Nikolai Fyodorov as Agriculture Minister. Fyodorov developed the program for Putin's All-Russian People's Front during the recent State Duma election campaign.
Serdyukov hangs on
Anatoly Serdyukov will remain Defense Minister, despite widespread criticisms of the army reforms he launched.
The new Energy Minister is Alexander Novak, while online government specialist Nikolai Nikiforov, 29, takes over from Igor Shchyogolev as Communications and Media Minister. The presidential envoy to the Central Federal District, Oleg Govorun, becomes Regional Development Minister, while Sergei Donskoi is the new environment minister Denis Manturov comes in at Industry and Trade.
Vitaly Mutko's Sports and Tourism Ministry has been reorganized to become the Sports Ministry, while former Emergency Situations Minister Sergei Shoigu (now Moscow Region governor) has been replaced by one of his deputies, Vladimir Puchkov.
Ilya Ponomaryov, an oppositional State Duma deputy from Just Russia, was scathing on the new appointments in his blog: "They chose the inertial development scenario. New people are an attempt to touch up the system with fresh faces. Their task is to cover Vladimir Putin's old bankrupt socioeconomic policy with their authority they haven't wasted yet."
Keywords: Russia, Government, Politics - Russian News - Russia
President Vladimir Putin on Monday kept his promise to make sweeping changes to the Cabinet, replacing three-quarters of the ministers and giving promotions to officials from Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev's team.
However, Putin kept a firm grip on key posts, starting with longtime ally Igor Shuvalov, who will be the Cabinet's only first deputy prime minister.
Speaking at a televised government session Monday, flanked by a cheery-looking Medvedev, Putin introduced the new Cabinet, which will consist of seven deputy prime ministers plus 21 ministers.
Shuvalov, who was in charge of Putin's major development project, Strategy 2020, as well as Russia's post-recessionary restoration, will not be joined by the outgoing other first deputy prime minister, Viktor Zubkov. Zubkov, who oversaw the economic ministries, failed to find his way into the new Cabinet.
Big role for Dvorkovich
Zubkov's functions will be assumed by Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich, who used to be Medvedev's aide.
"Dvorkovich, who often criticized Zubkov's approach, is now taking over the oil and gas and mining industries, agriculture and transportation from him, which strengthens Medvedev's clout in the government," Olga Mefodyeva, an analyst with the Center for Political Technologies, told The Moscow News.
Deputy Prime Ministers Vladislav Surkov, Dmitry Kozak, Dmitry Rogozin and Alexander Khloponin, all believed to belong to Putin's team, have remained in their posts. Khloponin will also keep the post of presidential envoy to the North Caucasus.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin's deputy for health and education, Olga Golodets, has been promoted to deputy prime minister.
Sechin out
Apart from Viktor Zubkov, Igor Sechin has lost his post as deputy prime minister. The resignation of Russia's oil tsar was expected, however.
Sechin was on his way out after Vladimir Putin appointed him to the board of state-run Rosneftegaz, which holds 75.16 percent of Rosneft, Russia's leading oil company.
This was timed to coincide with one of the last decrees of then-President Medvedev, who late last month ordered that officials should leave the boards of staterun companies within three years.
Far East ministry
Putin has created a new Ministry for the Development of the Far East, to be headed by Viktor Ishayev, the current envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District.
This falls in line with Putin's plans, announced in April, to create a special economic and taxation zone in the region.
Another new ministry is that in charge of relations with Medvedev's open government, a discussion platform for experts and public figures selected by Medvedev. The ministry will be headed by the coordinator of the open government project, Mikhail Abyzov.
No change at Finance
Anton Siluanov, who has largely followed the policies of his predecessor, Alexei Kudrin, will retain the Finance Ministry portfolio. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Justice Minister Alexander Konovalov will remain in the new government as well.
Andrei Belousov, one of the most experienced government officials, will replace Elvira Nabiullina at the head of the Economic Development Ministry. Earlier this month Nabiullina made it clear that she is tired of working in the government and that she is planning to quit.
Nurgaliyev sacked
One of the most controversial members of Putin's cabinet, Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev, has been replaced by Moscow police chief Vladimir Kolokoltsev.
"Kolokoltsev is more likely to find common language with Medvedev," Olga Mefodyeva said.
Another controversial figure, Education and Science Minister Andrei Fursenko, has been replaced by rector of the Moscow Institute of Steel and Alloys Dmitry Livanov.
A completely new name in the government is that of political analyst and historian Vladimir Medinsky, who took the post of Culture Minister. Medinsky has been on the board of United Russia but never worked in the government before.
New appointments also include Maxim Topilin and Veronika Skvortsova, deputies of Health and Social Development Minister Tatyana Golikova, who was not included in the new cabinet.
Golikova's ministry has been split into two, with Topilin put in charge of labor and social security, and Skvortsova in charge of healthcare.
Igor Levitin has been replaced by Maxim Sokolov as transportation minister, and Yelena Skrynnik with Nikolai Fyodorov as Agriculture Minister. Fyodorov developed the program for Putin's All-Russian People's Front during the recent State Duma election campaign.
Serdyukov hangs on
Anatoly Serdyukov will remain Defense Minister, despite widespread criticisms of the army reforms he launched.
The new Energy Minister is Alexander Novak, while online government specialist Nikolai Nikiforov, 29, takes over from Igor Shchyogolev as Communications and Media Minister. The presidential envoy to the Central Federal District, Oleg Govorun, becomes Regional Development Minister, while Sergei Donskoi is the new environment minister Denis Manturov comes in at Industry and Trade.
Vitaly Mutko's Sports and Tourism Ministry has been reorganized to become the Sports Ministry, while former Emergency Situations Minister Sergei Shoigu (now Moscow Region governor) has been replaced by one of his deputies, Vladimir Puchkov.
Ilya Ponomaryov, an oppositional State Duma deputy from Just Russia, was scathing on the new appointments in his blog: "They chose the inertial development scenario. New people are an attempt to touch up the system with fresh faces. Their task is to cover Vladimir Putin's old bankrupt socioeconomic policy with their authority they haven't wasted yet."