President Medvedev's first 100 days in office

Experts have called the young president's foreign visits successful. President Dmitriy Medvedev in Beijing.

President Dmitriy Medvedev celebrated his first 100 days in office this week. Now it's time to look at what he's accomplished. The president's speeches, decrees and visits are a healthy indication of the priorities he has chosen and the political strategy he is intent on maintaining in the near future.

Generally speaking, no one expected any earth-shattering initiatives or decisions from Medvedev during his first three months in office. Analysts said he would spend his time getting acquainted with the rather challenging surroundings of the Kremlin. Although his policies have been easily predictable, Medvedev has managed to do a great deal. He has already announced a new foreign policy, a national plan to combat corruption and innovative procedures to make life simpler for small businesses. Finally, Medvedev's toughest decision was conducting the peacekeeping operations in South Ossetia.

Birth of a president

"Over the past three months, Medvedev has made a smooth transition into power," said Sergey Markov, director of the Institute of Political Research. "He has appointed several new governors and strongmen, including the chief of General Staff. He participated in the G8 without any hiccups and visited China, Germany, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. Social opinion hasn't indicated one mistake on the president's behalf." 

"Although a new page in Russia's history has opened, Medvedev hasn't left the past far behind," said Vyacheslav Nikonob, president of the Politika Fund. "From the very beginning, he spoke about following Putin's course. Russia needs calm development at the moment. Medvedev said this himself on several occasions. He has provided this growth over his first 100 days in office. The Medvedev-Putin tandem was also subject to testing, too. Many skeptics said the two politicians would quickly become disgruntled with one another. But nevertheless they both have demonstrated an ability to work together."

"It's important Medvedev has been able to solidify his status as an authority figure," said Aleksey Mukhin, general director of the Center for Political Information. "He made several attempts to improve his image over his first 100 days as president. For example, he entered into a dialogue with the regional elite. This has led to President of Tartarstan Mintimer Shaymiyev offering Medvedev to choose regional authorities once more. The president also hasn't discounted the possibility of pardoning Khodorkovskiy, which has earned him the applause of the West."

The president congratulated the Russian national hockey team after winning the world championship.

Many experts say Medvedev's style unquestionably differs from Putin's. He is less emotional and impulsive.
 
"His style is characterized by a high level of predictability, rationality and calm. Medvedev relies on expert evaluations," said Dmitriy Orlov, general director of the Agency of Political and Economic Communications.

Strike bribetakers first

Medvedev's most significant domestic policy so far was the national plan to combat corruption. He issued a presidential decree ordering that the plan be quickly prepared. Analysts are positive that Medvedev will keep his strategy en route.

"For Putin, corruption was a problem that must undoubtedly be solved. For Medvedev, it's also an instrument for increasing political influence," said Aleksey Mukhin. "His liberal reputation aside, Medvedev is actually a tough politician."

Medvedev has not only criticized corrupt civil servants, but also law enforcement agencies and local authorities that stunt the growth of small businesses. The president has told businessmen that laws will soon be introduced in the autumn that will make their lives easier.

"Medvedev's domestic reforms program could be called Russia's Europeanization," said Gleb Pavlovskiy, general director of the Effective Politics Fund. "We are moving from a war with the state won by Putin to the next phase — a war for transparency and rule of law."

"Medvedev has chosen the people and human rights as the basis for his domestic policies," added Orlov. "In any case, he is the first president to speak out so much about human values. A new line of policy for Medvedev might be changing the country's political staffing situation. He has already mentioned the need to create a personnel reserve and said that even finding a candidate to serve as a governor is a problem in and of itself."

"There's no question we might become witnesses to a new 'Medvedevian call to power.' Clearly they will be lawyers and businessmen whereas they were lawyers and Czechists under Putin," said Markov.

Russia greets the new First Lady Svetlana Medvedeva.

West analyzes the liberal

Medvedev's victory at the elections was viewed upon with enthusiasm in the West. Foreign mass media had already spotted the liberal in Russia's newest president. They listened with interest as the Russian president announced his foreign policy priorities during his visit to Berlin.

"The West perceived Medvedev as a huge liberal compared to Putin," said Aleksandr Rar, director of the German Foreign Policy Council's Russia and CIS Programs. "At the same time, the Western press is asking: 'What can Medvedev actually do of what he promised?"

However, the West has already seen that Medvedev is more than capable of toughening Russia's stance despite his diplomacy and calm demeanour.

"The West was hoping Russia would assume Gorbachev's style of rule, meaning subtlety and indecision in national interests," said Orlov. "But this didn't happen. Medvedev said he will defend Russia's national interests. And that's exactly what he is doing."
 
Medvedev's appearances on the international stage have convinced the West that the country will maintain stability. This means the billions of dollars foreign investors have poured into the country are safe and sound.

Putin and Medvedev have proven they can work in tandem.

Forceful peace

Russia's relations with Georgia were Medvedev's first real test. He demonstrated his competence both as president and commander-in-chief. He called a meeting of the Security Council and sent Russian troops into South Ossetia. Medvedev reminded the nation that he promised to defend the interests of Russian citizens abroad before assuming office. Georgia was forced to accept peace.
 
"The president has demonstrated a tough political will," said Markov. "His actions certainly increase his rating in the eyes of the people."

http://www.kp.ru/daily/24146.4/363261/

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