Main focus of Friday, November 13, 2009

Russia discusses democracy

In his second address on the state of the nation delivered on Thursday, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev pointed to many areas still in need of development. Although Medvedev called for comprehensive modernisation and further democratisation in Russia, the European media doubt whether his words will be followed by action.

Kaleva - Finland

President Medvedev's strong words to the Russian nation must be followed by deeds, the daily Kaleva writes: "With his presidency half over Medvedev is in a quandary. He is still living in the shadow of his political godfather, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. Meanwhile the differences of opinion that divide the two are becoming increasingly obvious, and Medvedev wants to accelerate the tempo on reforms. But without Putin's explicit backing he lacks the political clout. Medvedev's ideas sound sensible and his analysis of the status quo in Russia hits the nail on the head. His assessment of the system in Russia is harsh: in the president's own words, Russia is still 'half-Soviet' … . Real changes take a long time in Russia. Medvedev has not concealed his desire to carry them out, but at least so far his deeds have lagged far behind his words." (13/11/2009)

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Der Tagesspiegel - Germany

President Dmitry Medvedev may have diagnosed Russia's "chronic backwardness" but he still considers the comprehensive democratisation of the country unnecessary, the Tagesspiegel concludes: "'All attempts to stir up the situation in the country with democratic solutions, to destabilise the state and to divide the society will be thwarted' - someone who talks like this is following the centuries-old tradition of Russian rulers who have no trust in their own people's power and ability to develop. Instead the state is to do this for them and the country to be modernised from the top down. This strategy may not have worked for the Tsars, Stalin or Gorbachev, but it does have a decisive advantage: there's always someone else to blame for the failures, be it the opposition, a country like Georgia or the West, towards which Medvedev's attitude was noticeably cool." (13/11/2009)

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Diena - Latvia

In his address to the nation Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has called for Russia to modernise, but at the same time reasserted the country's claim to power over the former Soviet republics. The Latvian daily Diena reacts nervously: "The key question for Latvia is how serious Russia's potential for aggression is at present. And to answer this one thing must be clear: Russia has still not recovered from the illness historian Norman Davis once described as its 'political anorexia'. Although this time Medvedev made no mention of the 'lost territories of the old indestructible Union' and the countrymen who live there, he addressed Georgia saying that Russia would deal with the resistance in the North Caucasus and do everything in its power to ensure prosperity for the people there. This, however, harks back to the naïve hopes of the Americans that they could bring peace to Iraq with Hollywood films and humanitarian aid." (13/11/2009)

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All available articles from » Didzis Meļķis

Gazeta Wyborcza - Poland

Medvedev's state of the nation address was more a pompous show that a political message, writes the left-liberal daily Gazeta Wyborcza, commenting that it was interpreted accordingly: "In yesterday's speech Dmitry Medvedev promised his fellow Russians a thorough programme of modernisation. But he was unable to convince them that he's the one who can lead them toward a better future. Russia's constitution stipulates that the president must deliver an annual address to the country's political elite and - with the help of the television - the nation. In his speech he is to point the way forward for the country's domestic and foreign policy. At least from an organisational point of view the event was impressive. Thousands gathered yesterday in St. George's Hall in the Kremlin - members of government, parliamentarians, religious leaders and artists. Because on a stage like that it's important to put in an appearance." (13/11/2009)

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All available articles from » Wacław Radziwinowicz

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