Putin's Choice for PM Introduces New Russian Power Center

By nominating Mikhail Fradkov to be Russia's new prime minister, President Vladimir Putin outmaneuvered two groups vying for influence over him, but allowed a third group to stand upon Russia's political "Mount Olympus" with the rest of the government elite. Putin's strategic choice to advance Russia technologically, tackle corrupt bureaucracy and align more closely with Europe appears to have been reinforced.