Izvestia: "Straightforward analysis"
Maxim Sokolov
A desire to find various implications in every official action can be partly explained by the Government's quest for ostensive secrecy. However, the possibility of subtle combinations does not necessarily mean that every decision has its own intrigue. Simple explanations cannot be deliberately rejected from the outset.
After Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's live question-and-answer session on December 4, analysts tried to offer sophisticated explanations without any particular need. They said in the run-up to the session that it aimed to change the balance between the Kremlin and the Government House in favour of the latter.
More outspoken analysts said this amounted to a plan for Putin's presidential comeback. This is reminiscent of old military line tactics, namely, Die Erste Kolonne marschiert (The first column is marching - German), followed by Die Zweite Kolonne (The second column).
It is unclear whether the Kremlin-Government House relations are troubled or not, since smart-aleck analysts know just as much about said relations as ordinary Russians. However, analysts should not necessarily be informed about such matters because Putin's question-and-answer sessions, including the latest event, do not require any insider knowledge.
PR analysts admitted that the initially great public effect of Putin's question-and-answer session began to dwindle while he was still President. This is hardly surprising, given that people grow tired of even the most successful genre and demand something new.
U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's famous fireside chats were not always enormously popular. Indeed, fluctuations are inevitable here; a decision to preserve this genre was a matter of Putin's taste and balance after his transfer from the Kremlin to the Government House. On the one hand, his new position makes it possible to quietly abandon a less effective method of communicating with the people, while on the other hand, it would be unwise to discard this method, which has become only slightly less effective and continues to yield results.
Various options were possible until the crisis snowballed and minimised the range of decisions. It is unclear whether Putin knew that he could face an all-out crisis during his tenure when deciding to become Prime Minister. The Government made inaccurate assessments of the situation after Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin made assurances that a large safety cushion would minimise the impact of the crisis.
It could be that the decision was made in line with the what-will-be-will-be principle. At any rate, many things became impossible after the crisis began. It is, for instance, one thing to resign voluntarily when the situation is favourable, but it is an entirely different matter when an official steps down in the midst of a tempestuous storm. The latter decision is not very ethical, since no one should resign at this extremely dangerous moment.
This general principle applies to crucial and less important decisions. No one would notice if the Prime Minister stopped holding live question-and-answer sessions in a favourable situation, but at this point, such a move would cause a public outcry, causing the people to wonder why top officials talk to them only in good times and not when the situation worsens. They will also get the impression that their leaders have nothing to say; even if the working people do not come to this conclusion themselves, they will be prompted by numerous well-wishers.
One should also keep in mind that being a well-wisher is a full-time job. Those straightforward analysts who think that the question-and-answer session highlights a striving towards absolute power would no doubt perceive the decision to call it off as a sign of ignominious cowardice. The principle "There is a Job for Everyone" may also apply to Prime Ministers.
Putin had no choice but to answer unpleasant questions concerning the lack of money, housing, foodstuffs, etc., a feature of any crisis.
"I knew it, so I don't complain," Putin said at the end of the session. It would be pointless and even foolish to look for some subtle intrigue in this situation.
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The opinions expressed in this article are the author's and do not necessarily represent those of the editorial office.
