The taken by Putin decision to become the head of the United Russia with large powers inside the party, the powers close to dictatorship, clarifies the future configuration of the Russian authority and the work by Putin-Medvedev tandem. Now political resources by Putin-prime-minister are equal or even exceed those Constitutional powers by Dmitry Medvedev, the newly elect president. Just beneath our very eyes the real center of power is passing from the Kremlin to the Russian White House.   

It’s clear now why Putin and Gryzlov were in a hurry to make the 11th convocation of the United Russia before the inauguration ceremony that is to be held on the 8th of May. And the pompous military parade of 9 May will complete this three-day and three-move ‘triptych’ of the winning ‘sovereign democracy’, headed by the duumvirate Pu-Med. This is how Chinese call our tandem by analogy with their own system Khu-Wen’ – that’s the working liaison between Khu Tszin Tao and Wen’ Tzsyabao.     

Before the moment comes for passing the football to Dmitry Medvedev, Vladimir Putin is trying to gather as much resources as possible. With all the shared interests and good relationship with Medvedev being considered, he cannot disregard the huge constitutional powers that are going to be in disposal of his successor. Actually, those powers allow Dmitry Medvedev to stop this game and begin a new one, on his own terms. This is why Putin is preparing his “strategic stock” in advance.     

In this game of chess the leadership in United Russia can become a second queen for Putin. The party that has absorbed almost all the Russian governors, mayors, and big businessmen, the party having a constitutional majority in the State Duma, this party can become the key tool in struggle for real power. Putin has already mentioned that, according to the Constitution, many important questions are within the competence of the Federal Assembly. Those are agreement to the Prime Minister appointment, budget and taxation issues, passing the laws (including the constitutional ones), the questions of war and peace, appointment of judges, prosecutor general and so forth. One mustn’t forget also amendments to the Constitution, fixing the dates for parliamentary and presidential election and…impeachment to the head of state.      

So after 8 May Vladimir Putin will concentrate immense opportunities in his hands, becoming de facto and de jure the head of the executive and legislative powers in the country, including legislative power in the provinces. Besides, there are also “right” people appointed by Putin in the law enforcement bodies and state corporations, and the huge media assets passed to Putin’s allies. Well, Putin is not demobbing empty-handed; there’s a whale of valuable political and business assets in his “demob album”.    

As for Dmitry Medvedev, who is mere the “newly elect president”, he has nothing to do but approving of all the Putin’s actions calling it humbly to be “timely and logical” steps. To all appearance, he will have to try hard to be able to work the entire term of office allotted to him by the Constitution. Comrade Gryzlov, who was asked by Putin to continue coordinating the current activities by the party, has already made a statement about necessity of parting the dates of parliamentary and presidential elections, making a gap of two years in between. That means we may have the next presidential election in 2010 instead of 2012.      

And there are no doubts at the moment that same people, who came to the recent United Party convocation, will be applauding stormingly to such a decision.