ULITMATE DESTINATION Christopher Granville, managing director of Trusted Sources, a London-based investment research service, said the Putin
premiership was an interim arrangement and that in the longer term he would exercise influence as
party chief.
"It has always been the most obvious thing for him to do in order for him to remain the supreme arbiter of policy and of the country''s development and modernisation," said Granville. "This is the ultimate destination."
"The plan for the premiership is to help the Medvedev administration get off to a good start ... and once the fledgling can fly with its own wings properly that is the moment when Putin will probably step back and continue as
leader of the party," Granville said.
Control over the majority in the State Duma, or lower house of parliament, would further entrench Putin''s position. The
president has the power to sack the
prime minister but he has to seek parliament''s approval to appoint a new premier.
United Russia has the two thirds majority required to amend the country''s constitution. This gives it the potential to change the powers, or the term, of the president.
"It is fully possible that Putin could become party leader but he is the one who will decide and United Russia will accept any decision he makes," said Alexei Makarkin, vice president of the Centre for Political Technologies in Moscow.
"The prime minister is in need of more political resources... United Russia controls parliament and United Russia unites the main regional elites," Makarkin said.
The State Duma will convene the day after Medvedev''s inauguration to vote on Putin''s candidacy for the premiership, Gryzlov said. Lawmakers are expected to confirm him in the post by a wide margin.
The outgoing Russian leader was instrumental in founding United Russia party and headed its election slate in a parliamentary election last year.
Even without heading the party, Putin is set to become the most powerful Russian prime minister since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991.
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