PM to Connect with Nation by Direct Party Line
The traditional direct line of Vladimir Putin with the nation, i.e. his TV intercourse with regions, is slated for December. This time, however, just a single TV company, VGTRK, will cover the event which format is of double interest. It isn’t clear yet whether Putin will address the nation as United Russia’s leader or as the country’s prime minister despite that none of Russia’s PMs has ever done it before.
United Russia presented to Putin the schedule of his dialogue with the party’s public reception rooms far back in June. It was the first time that Putin met with the party members as their leader. A month later, however, the idea of Putin’s meetings with United Russia’s reception rooms was elaborated to the meetings with own reception rooms of Vladimir Putin. From the very beginning, the concept spelled out a direct TV line of Vladimir Putin and his reception rooms, and the plans were to arrange it in the fall.
The sources say Putin’s direct TV line with the nation will be held in December. It has been slated for December 4 or December 5, some sources specified, but Putin’s briefer Dmitry Peskov said it won't be December 5 for certain.
“I can confirm that Putin’s intercourse has been planned for December, before the New Year, and not only with public receptions. It will be mostly the intercourse with people, including with the ones that haven’t referred to the public reception rooms. This conversation will continue the practice of TV intercourse with the nation, but the format will differ,” Peskov said.
The tradition of TV direct lines emerged in time of Putin’s presidency. There were six lines overall, the first one dates back to December 24, 2001, while the last one was held October 18, 2007 during the election campaign to the State Duma, when Putin topped United Russia’s list. The event was usually covered by Channel One and Rossia TV Channel. This year, however, only Rossia will broadcast (VGTRK) it, according to the sources.
“It is the project of VGTRK Holding, the mass media’s initiative,” Peskov confirmed.
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All the Article in Russian as of Nov. 18, 2008
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