PRIME MINISTER Vladimir Putin has pledged to modernise Russia’s economy and fight corruption if re-elected as president in March, but critics derided his manifesto as vague, outdated and full of familiar, unfulfilled promises.
In a 5,000-word article in Russian business newspaper Vedomosti, Mr Putin said the state would continue to play a central role in guiding the nation's commodities-based economy, but gradually reduce its influence and foster innovation and investment in other sectors.
Mr Putin, who hopes the March 4th election will return him to the Kremlin after a four-year absence, also issued a damning verdict on the presidency of his protege Dmitry Medvedev, claiming he had failed to improve Russia’s graft-poisoned business climate.
“We are living in a time of fundamental changes to the economic life of the whole world ... In such circumstances it is important to ensure the stable development of our economy, to give our citizens maximum protection from the impact of global crises, and at the same time to renew all aspects of economic life,” Mr Putin wrote.
“For Russia, it would be unacceptable to not have an economy that can guarantee stability, sovereignty and a decent standard of living. We need an economy with competitive industries and infrastructure, a developed service sector, and effective agricultural system. An economy founded on modern technology.”
Mr Putin, who has faced a series of anti-government protests since his party’s allegedly fraudulent general election victory in December, admitted that Russia was still plagued by “systemic corruption”. He first came to power 12 years ago on a pledge to eliminate graft.
“On the initiative of President Medvedev, in recent years we launched a whole series of reforms aimed at improving the business climate. But significant changes have not yet occurred,” he added, in comments that will fuel speculation that Mr Medvedev may not, as previously expected, be given the premier’s post if Mr Putin returns to the presidency.
Last week, Mr Putin’s campaign manager complained that Mr Medvedev was not giving enough public support to his mentor, who polls suggest will easily win the March ballot.
“The word ‘must’ is used in the text 32 times, the word ‘will’ 19 times, ‘need’ 17 times and ‘necessary’ 11 times,” a Vedomosti editorial said of Mr Putin’s article.
“But who is it that ‘must’? And what has he been doing all these years?”
The most popular response on the Vedomostiwebsite read: "Dear Pu, enough of your slogans. Twelve years of absolute power should be enough to show some results."
