Elina Bilevskaya
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin will continue to hold large-scale news conferences involving the regional and federal media. Although such news conferences will be similar to those held by Putin during his presidential terms, there will be some changes. Quite possibly, Putin will communicate with journalists during all-Russian media forums involving the supporters of the pro-Kremlin United Russia party. As a rule, journalists from all Russian regions attend such forums. The ex-President could play the part of Prime Minister and United Russia leader during the above-mentioned forums.
After settling the Russian-Ukrainian gas conflict, Putin is now ready to tackle various problems in the capacity of Prime Minister and United Russia leader. For obvious reasons, such problems were shelved earlier this year.
In late January and early February, President Putin used to meet with Russian and foreign journalists. When asked at a mid-February 2008 live question-and-answer session if such events would be held after Putin became Prime Minister, the Russian leader replied, "Why not?".
In 2006, Putin was asked if he planned to head energy giant Gazprom after his presidential term expired. At that time, Putin replied jokingly that he preferred administrative work to business. In early 2009, Putin had to assume responsibility for negotiations concerning Russian gas deliveries to Europe.
Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov told the paper that various forms of the Prime Minister's communication with the media were currently being selected. This year, Putin could deal with journalists as a top official and as United Russia leader during the all-Russian United Russia media forum.
This format was created in 2005 when United Russia decided to hold the first media forum. The fifth forum, due to be held this year, will, as always, involve top partisan leaders, State Duma deputies, analysts, and journalists from all Russian regions.
Now that Putin has become the United Russia leader, the media-forum format can be used to communicate with journalists who probably have many questions to ask him in connection with the gas conflict, the aggravated financial-economic crisis, and many other domestic policy issues.
Although the Prime Minister so far is content with smaller formats, he has recently successfully tested various forms of communication with the press. For instance, Putin regularly meets with the editors-in-chief of leading Russian newspapers, albeit mostly behind closed doors.
Moreover, the Prime Minister is always eager to meet with foreign journalists in Russia and abroad. After Ukraine stopped Russian gas transits to Europe, Putin quickly called a news conference for foreign journalists at his Novo-Ogaryovo residence near Moscow in order to explain the Russian stance. Over the weekend, Putin met with the editors-in-chief of German publications in Dresden. The meeting began at midnight and lasted over three hours.
Yevgeny Minchenko, Director of the Moscow-based International Institute of Political Analysis, told the paper that open and closed-door formats cater to different audiences. "Putin prioritised an open news conference because the majority of the Western media had distorted his comments during the gas crisis," Minchenko stressed.
He said the Government viewed the Russian media as an ally involved in one and the same business. This is why candid meetings are held behind closed doors, Minchenko told the paper. He said this format made it possible to discuss issues that should not yet be put in the public spotlight.
Dmitry Badovsky, Deputy Director of the Social Systems Institute, said a search for new forms of the Prime Minister's open dialogue with the media aimed to renew the political model. "A tandem model has asserted itself, and the entire line of public formats has changed accordingly," Badovsky said. In the past, President Putin had the required range of formats, he stressed.
President Medvedev and Prime Minister Putin are now working on their own formats. For instance, Putin will continue to hold regular live question-and-answer sessions. "Putin must have a number of formats that allow him to deliver not just one or two policy-making speeches each year," Badovsky told the paper.
Under the Russian Constitution, Putin has the right to address the State Duma and annual United Russia congresses.
