Reuters, 18/02 17:17 CET
By Margarita Papchenkova, Darya Korsunskaya and Oksana Kobzeva
MOSCOW (Reuters) – President Vladimir Putin has removed the head of Russia’s ailing state development bank VEB
after its bailout needs rose to $16 billion, two sources told Reuters, a
sign that in times of crisis Putin puts fiscal discipline before
loyalty to allies.
The dismissal of Vladimir Dmitriev, if confirmed, is the
latest evidence that fealty to Putin is not the get-out-of-jail card it
used to be. He may have a reputation in the West for being a tough
leader, but at home he is known for his reluctance to sack people he
deems devoted to him, even if they mess up.
Indications are growing however that his country’s
economic crisis – fuelled by low oil prices, a weak rouble and Western
sanctions – is changing the Russian leader’s calculus.
“Putin doesn’t really like to fire people, even for big
failures,” one senior government official told Reuters. “But the crisis
has changed this mindset – there is no money any more.”
Click here for the full article.
Source: Euronews
No comments:
Post a Comment