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It is hardly surprising that Dmitry Medvedev is Russia's president-elect or that his predecessor, Vladimir Putin, appeared on stage with Medvedev when the results were announced. Neither is it surprising that there were allegations of vote rigging. But it would be wrong to dismiss Medvedev as just a puppet with nothing of his own to contribute to the office of the presidency.
At 42, Medvedev will become the youngest Kremlin head since Joseph Stalin and within the confines of his new role there is the possibility of a more subtle approach to both Washington and London. Putin will still yield enormous influence, especially over energy and foreign policy, but Medvedev may well try to portray a softer, more subtle approach to the international community than Putin did.
There are already indications Medvedev is attempting, within limits, to be his own man. He insisted at a press conference immediately after his election that he would direct foreign policy, and said his first trip overseas would be to a former Soviet republic.
Of course what the new president says and what he can actually deliver are two separate things. But the Russian presidency is an office with enormous power both politically and symbolically. The challenge for the new president is to keep the Russian economy buoyant and make Moscow's voice a constructive one on the world stage, neither of which are at odds with Putin's grand design. The manner in which he chooses to do this or the amount of latitude he is given to carry out the task is what is important. Some authority will always reside in the Kremlin even if Putin is no longer there and Medvedev is bound to grow in the job. He has to, to win the confidence of the public, but how much he will be allowed to grow only the new prime minister can answer.
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