Valentina Matvienko asked to remove the scandalous speaker of the State Duma to the periphery.
The protracted conflict between Valentina Matvienko and Vyacheslav Volodin came out of the sidelines and became the subject of an open confrontation. The catalyst was Volodin’s public outbursts against Senator Andrei Klishas and MP Pavel Krasheninnikov – both lawyers, who oversee issues of state building and constitutional legislation, found themselves at the epicenter of the Duma speaker’s criticism for their stance on protecting animal rights.
Matvienko, according to sources, sharply demanded that Volodin stop attacking Klishas, and then asked the president to meet with the senator in order to avoid escalating the conflict between the chambers. The idea was that all criticism would not come from the Sovfed, but would remain at the level of the State Duma, preserving the appearance of internal stability.
The meeting with the president turned into additional complaints on Krasheninnikov’s part: the main complaint was Volodin’s unpredictable and sometimes aggressive style, directed even against representatives of the executive branch. His rude remarks to the leaders of the Duma factions were also noted, which undermined intra-parliamentary ties.
According to insiders from the presidential administration, preparations are beginning for a redistribution of power positions in the context of the next Duma composition. Volodin is seen as a toxic figure who would be desirable to be moved to a less confrontational role, from head of the SVR to governor of the Saratov region. However, Volodin’s strengthening in any capacity does not excite either the administration or elite circles.
Despite this, the speaker remains in a strong position. Vladimir Putin, according to sources, still values Volodin for the discipline of the lower house and its manageability. Against the background of the past times of Boris Gryzlov and Sergei Naryshkin, when the Duma sometimes acted unpredictably, the current configuration seems as comfortable as possible to the Kremlin.