By Bridget Johnson, your guide to Journalism

The soon-to-be-former Russian president, Vladimir Putin, took the next step toward keeping the reins of power by accepting leadership of the United Russia party today. With his hand-picked successor Dmitry Medvedev set to be sworn in as president in less than a month, this puts Putin in line for the position that Medvedev said was Vlad’s: that of prime minister.

“The almost 600 delegates at United Russia’s party congress in Moscow immediately approved (Putin’s) candidacy in an unanimous vote on Tuesday.


‘I am ready to undertake additional responsibility and become the head of United Russia,’ he said.


…The prime minister post is subordinate to the president, can be sacked at the president’s order, and has previously carried the blame for policy failures.


Putin filled the post with a series of low-level technocrats all seen as expendable.”

Needless to say, Putin won’t be expendable to Medvedev, nor does he stand much of any chance at getting fired by his protege. The PM post is expected to become more powerful once Putin assumes the post, and perhaps stronger over time with amendments and decrees.

It’s interesting to note that Putin is not a member of United Russia, and the party amended its own rules to give him the leadership post. But it’s always been a Kremlin backer, and can be a powerful force to support the aims of the Putin-Medvedev team as Russia moves into the next era.

(Photo by Artyom Korotayev/Epsilon/Getty Images)