Russia's Putin to step into congress limelight

By Oleg Shchedrov

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Kremlin-watchers will look for clues about whether Russia's ruling double act of Dmitry Medvedev and Vladimir Putin can withstand the financial crisis when Putin's party holds its congress on Thursday.

The United Russia party meets for its annual gathering against a backdrop of fevered speculation that Putin, the former president, may be preparing to make a comeback to the Kremlin to guide the country through a period of economic turmoil.

Officials deny any such plan and many analysts say it does not make sense for the Kremlin to make the change right now. But the congress gives a platform for Putin, now prime minister, to re-assert his status as Russia's most popular politician.

"The authorities need to tell the nation what is happening and the United Russia congress is a good stage for that," said Boris Makarenko, deputy head of the Centre for Political Technologies, a Moscow think tank.

The main theme of the meeting will be the development of a strategy for the country during crisis conditions, the chairman of the party's directing council, Boris Gryzlov, was quoted as saying by the website of radio station Ekho Moskvy.

Sources in the lower house of parliament, where United Russia holds 315 of the 450 seats, said the congress could be used to criticize economic policy, and analysts said there could be some re-jigging of the political system.

"As far as I know, there will be changes," said Makarenko, without elaborating on what these might be.

Putin, restricted by the constitution to two consecutive terms, stepped down as president in May and was replaced by Medvedev, his long-standing protege and the man he endorsed as successor.

Putin stayed on as prime minister, creating an unusual ruling partnership in which, many analysts believe, the former president has the senior role.

A looming economic downturn could threaten this arrangement.

"Today's regime is based on the high popularity of Putin and Medvedev," independent think tank Marketing and Consulting said in written research.

"But if living standards plunge and their popularity plummets, the political system, which does not have any balancing elements or safety valves, may simply get stuck."

PUTIN COMEBACK?

Speculation about a possible Putin comeback was sparked on November 5 when Medvedev proposed extending subsequent presidential terms -- not including his own current one -- from four to six years. Parliament approved the change on the second of three readings on Wednesday.

Kremlin critics say the reform will be used as a justification for holding early presidential elections in which Putin -- wary his role as prime minister could make him a scapegoat for the downturn -- will take back his old job.