Medvedev's agenda

Monday, March 3

Dmitry Medvedev won a landslide victory in the presidential election yesterday.As a trusted associate of President Vladimir Putin, Medvedev can be relied on to continue the policies followed since 2000. However, Medvedev's strong support base across various segments of the population also puts him in a strong starting position to try and reform the economy and the system of governance.

Medvedev's electoral platform combined promises of increased social welfare with ideas such as enhancing the rule of law, fostering entrepreneurship and promoting foreign investment:

• Medvedev pledged to achieve a two-fold increase in state pensions and public sector wages. He promised to expand further the funding for healthcare and maternity benefits, in an attempt to reverse Russia's demographic decline.
• He demanded that business owners improve working conditions for employees and introduce new compensation schemes to reward the most motivated and able workers.
• He cited lack of competition as a major reason behind the poor quality of medical and education services.
• He raised such issues as the over-centralisation of political power in Moscow and bureaucratic impediments to foreign investment. On a few occasions, he spoke against 'state capitalism' and the proliferation of state corporations; however, there are doubts about his ability -- and willingness -- to deviate from Putin's established line of state control in 'strategic sectors'.
• Finally, he has promised increased support to Russian investors abroad -- following the example of China and other fast-growing economies.