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Vladimir Putin has accepted to lead the dominant United Russia
party. His candidacy was approved with a unanimous vote by the nearly 600 party
delegates at today’s congress.
The strategy involves the preservation of power in Putin’s
hands once he will leave Kremlin and become prime minister next month. The
outcome of the decision will elevate Putin’s power base in the lower house of
the parliament, as the party leads with a majority of two-thirds.
The upcoming Russian President, Dmitri A. Medvedev, Putin’s hand-picked
successor, did not accept to join United Russia, claiming that at this point it
would be premature, as he is due to be sworn in as president on May 7.
According to BBC News, President Vladimir Putin commented the decision: "I do not
believe it is sensible for a head of state, wherever his political affections
are, to lead a party. Here I fully agree with Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev.
"As for the chairman of the government (prime minister), a
situation in which the head of the executive branch leads a party is a civilized
and natural practice that is traditional for democratic states," he added, explaining
to the congress the logic of his decision.
Mr. Medvedev has announced on numerous occasions that he intends to continue
on the direction set by his predecessor.
According to Reuters, Sergei Markov, a well known political
analyst and United Russia member of the parliament, said to congress: "It
(the appointment as party chairman) strengthens Putin's political weight as
national leader. Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev is leader of the state and of the
Russian Federation, but the political leader of the country remains
Putin."
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