Premier Putin

Outgoing Russia President Vladimir Putin is expected to join the ruling United Russia party at its congress this Monday and immediately become party boss, a step towards parliament approving him as prime minister on May 8. 

His transfer from presidential to legislative power was settled -- it is being suggested in Moscow -- at a parliamentary floor group meeting last month.  Such indecent haste -- Putin's successor, Dmitry Medvedev, is inaugurated the day before, May 7 -- may be designed to have both leaders take the May 9 Victory Day march-past in Red Square.

Putin's translation, first into the head of the party that dominates parliament (315 seats out of 450 in the State Duma), and then head of the government, would change the basis of political power in Russia.  It could also revive party politics, breathe life into United Russia and connect the administration with the voters.  It would give Putin his own power source -- nominated by the president, he must be endorsed by parliament.  If the Putin-Medvedev duopoly fell out and Medvedev sacked Putin, parliament could reject the president's preferred successor three times before precipitating elections, and it could also start impeachment proceedings.