Russia: Choice of Fradkov seen as compromise between family, Petersburgers.

(From BBC Monitoring International Reports)

The nomination of Mikhail Fradkov to the post of prime minister came as a surprise to One Russia leadership, according a newspaper article. The article describes Fradkov as a former silovik with liberal image, a careful political survivor who avoids excesses and goes for compromises. As an economist, he is seen as belonging the old school relaying on administrative-edict management methods. The following is the text of article by Maksim Glikin and Natalya Melikova, headlined "Strong administrator. Fradkov is not a 'hawk' but a silovik, not a liberal but an economist" by Russian newspaper Nezavisimaya Gazeta on 2 March. Subheadings have been inserted editorially:

Fradkov was a surprise, certainly to One Russia leaders

The nomination of Mikhail Fradkov, Russia's plenipotentiary representative at the EU, as the country's prime minister was almost as unexpected as the dismissal of Mikhail Kasyanov. Fradkov's name did not feature even once on the various lists of candidates for the top government post drawn up with the help of political scientists and sources around the Kremlin. Mr Fradkov last featured in the ratings for "Russia's 100 Leading Politicians" around a year ago. Since then people had succeeded in forgetting about him. Perfect secrecy was maintained regarding his appointment - a quality greatly valued by the head of state and very familiar to the candidate for premier himself, who also worked abroad in Soviet times, though admittedly not in intelligence proper but in the commercial sphere (although these functions were …