So who’s really in charge of Russia?
President Obama mistakenly called Russian PM Vladimir Putin the country's "president," during an interview — perhaps suggesting someone everyone already assumes. Russia's "real" president is Dmitry Medvedev (pictured).
President Obama made a minor gaffe, but it actually has a smattering of truth. He called Vladimir Putin the “president” of Russia, while he actually holds the post of “prime minister.”
But everyone, including many inside Russia, assume Putin is really running the show.
From Reuters:
In a slip of the tongue, U.S. President Barack Obama described Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Monday as president, echoing the widely held view that he remains Russia’s most powerful man.
Putin surrendered the presidency to protege Dmitry Medvedev last May to take the lesser post of prime minister, but most political analysts say Putin remains Russia’s ultimate decision maker. …
At a news conference Obama gave a carefully worded reply about the effectiveness of the leadership tandem when a U.S. journalist bluntly asked “who is really in charge here in Russia?”
But minutes later, speaking about Medvedev’s objections to a controversial missile defense system planned for central Europe, Obama slipped:
“I suspect when I speak to President..eh.. Prime Minister Putin tomorrow, he will say the same thing.”
