Valentina Matvienko's Second Term

From Ambitious Projects to Threats of Removal

Author(s): Daniil Tsygankov
Editor(s): Stephen Aris, Matthias Neumann, Robert Orttung, Jeronim Perovic, Heiko Pleines, Hans-Henning Schröder
Series: Russian Analytical Digest (RAD)
Issue: 67
Pages: 9-12
Publisher(s): Center for Security Studies (CSS), ETH Zurich; Research Centre for East European Studies, University of Bremen
Publication Year: 2009

Three years after President Vladimir Putin appointed her to a second term as governor of St. Petersburg, Valentina Matvienko's position seems secure, particularly since she maintains close relations to Putin. The city economy suffered a serious drop in output thanks to the global financial crisis, but now a slow recovery has begun. However, critics have pointed out that the city's anti-crisis policies support large-scale construction projects at the cost of medium and small business, which are respectively more stable financially and provide many jobs. The city leaders also have not implemented an innovative plan for overhauling the structure of the city economy.

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