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29.08.07
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Leadership Changes In Samara
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By Paul Abelsky
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Putin Appoints AvtoVAZ Head as Next Regional Governor
Konstantin Titov joined the fast-receding ranks of Yeltsin-era governors after he resigned earlier this week from his long-held gubernatorial post in the Samara Region. Although pressure had been mounted on Titov for some time, his coordinated departure proceeded slower than many expected, culminating in a letter of resignation to President Vladimir Putin on Monday. The president submitted the name of Vladimir Artyakov, head of AvtoVAZ, as the new governor, and his candidacy was put to a vote in the Samara regional parliament. The legislature unanimously approved Artyakov’s appointment earlier today.
Titov is the fourth governor to leave office this year, following the departures of Sherig-ool Oorzhak, president of Tuva, Buryat President Leonid Potapov and Mikhail Prusak, governor of Pskov region. Titov held sway in Samara for nearly 16 years and earned a solid reputation as an independent-minded and pragmatic administrator, but he has come to be seen as more of a liability in light of the United Russia party’s uneven performance in Samara recently. With the new appointments coming on the eve of December’s pivotal parliamentary ballot, it seems that the Kremlin has stepped up the gubernatorial reshuffle in an effort to consolidate control and insert trusted figures to manage the run-up to the vote.
Vladimir Zvonovsky, president of the Samara-based Foundation of Social Studies, says in this case, the Kremlin pursued a broader, two-pronged approach, aimed at wiping the slate clean both inside the regional administration and in AvtoVAZ management. “You would think a lame duck president would not want to tie up his successor with these late appointments and changes, but by selecting governors who will be beholden more to him than to his heir, Putin is positioning himself for an influential role after he retires,” Zvonovsky said. “Equally important is the fact that the Kremlin wants to install a new chief at AvtoVAZ, who will not stop short of drastic cost-cutting measures and mass lay-offs.”
Samara has gained national visibility in the past year, with a recent Russia-EU summit held at a Volga River resort on the town’s edge. It is also a key part of Russia’s industrial heartland. Artyakov’s appointment is a recognition of the influence of AvtoVAZ, the region’s most prominent corporation, owned by military exports monopolist Rosoboronexport, which has firmed up its position in the region with Artyakov’s selection. For many years, Artyakov served as a top deputy to Sergei Chemezov, the powerful head of Rosoboronexport and a close friend and former KGB colleague of President Putin. However, the company has lacked political representation in the regions despite securing ever more nationwide economic influence. Candidates with close ties to Rosoboronexport have also performed poorly in recent elections in Samara.
A statement issued by AvtoVAZ on Monday sounded a note of confidence about Artyakov’s potential to boost the automobile industry in his new role. “The appointment of Vladimir Artyakov as the acting governor of the Samara region will facilitate the development of automobile manufacturing in Russia,” the statement said in part.
Titov’s exit has been rumored since early August following a meeting with Sergei Sobyanin, head of the presidential administration, when the latter reportedly demanded a guarantee of United Russia’s strong showing in Samara, leading Titov to tender his resignation. Titov’s inability to consolidate the local political elite has remained a point of contention for the Kremlin, since support for United Russia has been uneven in the region over the past year. The city of Samara elected Just Russia’s Viktor Tarkhov as its mayor in October 2006, and United Russia garnered a relatively disappointing 33.8 percent during regional parliamentary elections in March. Titov headed the United Russia party list during the March elections, with Artyakov holding the number three spot.
During a meeting with journalists in Samara, Alexander Konovalov, presidential envoy to the Volga Federal District, explained the rationale for the change as a natural development following Titov’s long tenure. “There is nothing extraordinary in this resignation,” he said. “We live in a law-abiding state, which presumes a periodic rotation of leaders of all levels. Such a personnel change has the character of a normal, appropriate and painless rotation.”
Artyakov was among the list of 14 candidates for the gubernatorial post, with most contenders representing political circles in Samara or Moscow. Since joining United Russia last year, he has not held an elected post. His arrival heralds a passing of one of the more independent regional leaders. Titov’s political commitments have varied over the years: his list of party affiliations has ranged from the liberal Union of Right Forces and Social-Democratic Party, which he co-founded with Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev in 2001, to United Russia, which he joined in November 2005. The same year he became one of the first governors to petition the president for a re-appointment to his office.
Zvonovsky expects drastic personnel changes after the new governor takes over. “Titov’s administration has developed into a highly nepotistic operation, and I estimate that no more than 15 percent of the current officials will stay on,” he said. “Certainly, the entire roster of ministers will be changed.”
Although Titov previously vowed to retire from public service after leaving office, he has been offered a position in the Federation Council, the upper chamber of the Russian parliament, as a senator representing Samara. During a farewell meeting on Tuesday, Titov said he saw nothing tragic in his departure. “I voluntarily offered to resign myself and the president satisfied my wish,” he said. “Only history will judge how successful our work has been here, but I think we can all be proud that during the most challenging historical period for Russia, we worked bravely for the good of the Samara region and for the good of the people of the Russian Federation.” |
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