FACTBOX: Russian president and PM: who does what?
(Reuters) - Dmitry Medvedev is set to win Russia's presidential election by a huge margin to succeed Vladimir Putin, first official results from the Central Election Commission showed on Sunday.
But Putin, by far the most popular politician, will retain considerable influence as prime minister under his protege.
Medvedev himself has expressed confidence this power-sharing arrangement -- unusual for Russia -- will work. Skeptics say the partnership is bound to self-destruct and forsee differences in terms of handling problems and prioritizing reforms.
Following is a breakdown of presidential and prime ministerial powers under the current constitutional rules.
Political analysts caution that an exclusively legal view of the division of power does not allow for the deeply personal basis of authority in Russia.
* PRESIDENT:
- Head of state.
- Office is in the Kremlin.
- Commander-in-chief of armed forces -- in charge of Russia's nuclear weapons.
- Sets direction of foreign and domestic policies.
- Guarantor of the constitution, citizens' rights.
- Defender of Russia's sovereignty.
- Prime minister reports directly to the president.
- Appoints and sacks PM and other federal ministers, subject to parliamentary approval.
- All Russian spy services report directly to the president.
- Foreign Ministry, Defence Ministry, Interior Ministry, Emergency Ministry, Justice Ministry report directly to president.
- Controls the Presidential Administration, based in the Kremlin.
- Has a right to chair cabinet meetings, but normally leaves this to the prime minister.
- Controls and appoints the Security Council, which oversees Russia's defence and security policies.
- Appoints central bank head.
- Can call a state of emergency or impose martial law if he believes there is a threat to national security.
* PRIME MINISTER:
- Heads cabinet of ministers.
- Office located in Moscow's White House, across the city from the Kremlin.
- Becomes acting president if the president "is incapacitated and cannot fulfill his responsibilities", according to Russia's Constitution.
- Civilian ministries such as education and health report to the prime minister.
- Implements domestic and foreign policy as well as presidential decrees, laws and international agreements.
- Coordinates economic and fiscal policy, manages federal property.
- Sets prices for gas, electricity and domestic transport.
- Controls social policy, labor policy, migration and family policies.
-- For more on the Russian presidential election, read our blog "Operation Successor" at blogs.reuters.com/russia
