Vladimir Resin candidate for Moscow Mayor.
Acting mayor of Moscow Vladimir Resin has found himself, rather unexpectedly, a front-runner for the post of Moscow mayor after the president fired Yury Luzhkov citing loss of confidence. NG has learned that the Kremlin does not rule out a situation in which Resin would continue managing the city until the end of the 2011-2012 parliamentary and presidential campaigns. His main mission would be to ensure the elections in Moscow run smoothly.
Vladimir Resin, a deputy of the former Moscow mayor and acting mayor now, joined the pro-Kremlin United Russia party on Wednesday. The move was likely prompted by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who obviously indicated to Resin he was personally supervising the situation in the city at the moment.
Yelena Panina, who heads the Moscow branch of United Russia, reported on Wednesday that Resin was granted membership. Under the party’s charter, membership can only be granted to a candidate who had been a “supporter” for at least six months previously to applying. Viktor Seliverstov, another Moscow branch official, confirmed that Resin had been a “supporter” since 2008. The acting mayor received his membership card on Wednesday morning, having filed for membership late on Tuesday, immediately after a meeting with Putin.
The very fact that they met, publicised by Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov, has left no doubt as to who is running Russia’s capital now. Peskov admitted that normally the prime minister never meets with acting regional leaders, and certainly not the day before a list of candidates is submitted to the president, but Moscow is a unique case. Putin has actually indicated that he was personally handling issues in Moscow.
Resin has made several landmark decisions over the past few days. He said he was considering moving the notorious Peter the Great statue by Zurab Tsereteli, and fired Oleg Mitvol, an official known for his loyalty to Luzhkov, also citing loss of confidence. He also suspended the construction of a Kremlin museum annex in Borovitskaya Square designed to house the museum’s reserve stock and known for its controversial design.
The United Russia leadership said on Wednesday that the party’s presidium would meet on Saturday to draw up a list of candidates. They also said they were engaged in ongoing consultations with the Kremlin executive office. “We need to select an unconventional leader,” said Andrei Isayev, deputy secretary of the presidium.
Several sources close to the Kremlin told Nezavisimaya Gazeta that Resin’s appointment was a viable option. “Resin’s decisions are in line with what is expected of the city’s new leadership. His nomination is being considered as a suitable compromise. Everyone is holding breath in Moscow now as people are trying to guess whether the new mayor will be pro-Putin or pro-Medvedev. Resin’s appointment could smooth things over,” a Kremlin source said.
He believes that Resin could be appointed as a temporary mayor serving until the end of the 2011-2012 election campaigns. This would help the ruling tandem to keep the voters intrigued as well as to secure United Russia a safe parliamentary majority.
Resin has been responsible for all previous important election campaigns in Moscow. Panina cited the two latest ones, the presidential election and last years’ Moscow City Duma vote. Several NG sources claim that the Moscow legislature could have been more diverse in terms of political parties represented on it had it not been for Luzhkov’s interference.
However, Resin’s age could be a problem. President Medvedev is known to have an age limit of 75 when appointing regional heads. At 74, Resin might still be eligible.
Russian media have been actively mulling an idea that two different people may be appointed Moscow mayor and head of the Moscow government. An arrangement in which the mayor would not have any real authority while the government head will run the city was not ruled out. Under the current Statute of Moscow, the mayor is also the city government head. The document may indeed be amended to include two separate governing posts. However, even if Moscow lawmakers vote for it, the change will not be legitimate, because an acting mayor cannot sign it into law. The amendment will have to wait until a new mayor officially takes office.
Analysts agree that Resin could be an ideal solution for the time being. Dmitry Orlov, director general of the Russian Agency of Political and Economic Communications, says Resin himself is pursuing a wise and cautious policy.
“He began with promptly dissociating himself from Luzhkov, indicating he was no longer on the old mayor’s team, and showed he was a tough manager. He also addressed two issues that are especially painful for Moscow – the Peter the Great statue and the Kremlin museum annex. Finally, he joined the pro-government party,” Orlov said arguing that Resin has a good chance of remaining mayor at least for a while and that his meeting with Putin was a good sign.
“The federal government cannot just ignore the powerful resource that Resin has due to his experience, not when he has just publicly denied his loyalty to the ex-mayor’s ideas. His primary responsibility – if he remains mayor – will be the 2011 and 2012 elections,” the analyst went on, adding that one shouldn’t change horses in midstream.
Mikhail Vinogradov, head of the Centre for Current Politics in Russia estimated Resin’s chances at 30%: “There are certain signs that his chances are growing rapidly, the most significant of which is that his public image is growing stronger.” However, he believes that, with Luzhkov safely out of the way, political elites have been given a signal to get ready for elections. On the other hand, if Resin is approved as mayor, the Moscow modernisation project as well as turning the city into an international financial centre will be delayed for an indefinite period.
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From the Statute of Moscow (June 28, 1995)
Chapter 1. General Provisions
Article 5. Bodies of state power in the city of Moscow
2. The top official in the city of Moscow is the Mayor, who heads the city’s supreme executive body.
3. The supreme executive body in the city of Moscow is the Moscow Government.
Elina Bilevskaya