The Kremlin will set some new objectives for the presidential envoys
Rumor has it that the Kremlin is displeased with the way the seven federal districts have come to resemble states within a state. Their bureaucracies have expanded, and the presidential envoys behave like masters.
With regional mergers under way, the next changes may affect the institution of presidential envoys.
Rumor has it that the Kremlin is displeased with the way the seven federal districts have come to resemble states within a state. Their bureaucracies have expanded, and the presidential envoys behave like masters – periodically reprimanding regional leaders, or getting too involved in regional leader appointments. According to the initial concept, a presidential envoy is supposed to be just a humble official from the presidential administration, keeping an eye on observance of the law in the regions.
According to an informed source, the federal authorities are inclined to think that it’s time to make some perceptible cuts to the regional bureaucracy and set some new objectives for the presidential envoys. For example, they ought to play a more active role in the budgetary process, establishing economic links between regions.
As the federal elections approach, the presidential envoys might be in for some fine-tuning as well. There is more and more talk of the Kremlin being displeased with the performance of Petr Latyshev, envoy for the Urals federal district. Rumor has it that Ilya Klebanov wants to resign as envoy for the North-West federal district and move back to the federal government. And Georgy Poltavchenko, envoy for the Central federal district, might be in line for promotion to a post of greater authority.
