Medvedev Could Resign for Return of Putin

Today Vedomosti is reporting that President Dmitry Medvedev could resign in 2009 in order to clear the way for the return of Vladimir Putin. Citing an unidentified source close to the Kremlin, it is believed that following Medvedev’s proposal to change the constitution to extend the presidential term from four to six years, he would undertake a number of unpopular and politically damaging social reforms (i.e. – a ruble devaluation), and then resign to clear the way for the reinstatement of Vladimir Putin as part of a plan drawn up by the sovereign democracy godfather Vladislav Surkov. Putin could then rule for two six year terms from 2009 to 2021, though his spokesman is denying it. We believe that the leak of this kind of story, as in the past, is a way to test the waters of local and international reaction.