Things got even worse when the Premier came down on a national socio-economic forecast for the next two years, offered by Mr. Gref's ministry. The forecast was turned down for improvement-that for an umpteenth time.
The clashes started long ago, when Mikhail Fradkov was mere Russian spokesman at the European Union and Gherman Gref's subordinate. Now, the Premier has his little reward with no end of criticisms. They don't take the recalcitrant Mr. Gref aback in the slightest. He is Russia's only minister now who dares to offer his ministry's initiatives for public debates. Possibly, he owes his courage to regular personal conferences with President Vladimir Putin, whom he keeps abreast with economic developments and prospects.
As the ministerial forecast has it, the GDP will increase by 6.9% before the year's end, and by another 6.3% next year. Mr. Fradkov attacked the document to say it was "unstructured" and did not offer practical arrangements for economic progress and a plan to meet the target. To that, Mr. Gref said that, to draw a medium-term program, he needed every minister's initiatives to develop his particular economic sector. Meanwhile, Mikhail Fradkov expects none other but Mr. Gref to come out with practical initiatives for quicker economic progress. "Great vistas are opening before your ministry," he said, significantly. That was an ominous compliment-it means the entire blame will be shifted on Gherman Gref if Russia fails to double its GDP.
It is hard to say just when Mr. Gref will come to the end of his tether, if ever. Meanwhile, he knows better than to bicker with the Prime Minister-unlike, let say, Alexei Kudrin, Finance Minister.
As Mr. Fradkov asked just why a 7.5% GDP growth had not appeared in the forecast, Mr. Kudrin angrily told him to cope with reforms in power and gas industries and the municipal economy single-handed. The Prime Minister refused to take up personal responsibility, as could be expected.
He immediately came up with a preposterous idea-to exchange portfolios between the ministers. That made his audience gasp. "Each of us will be a Jack-of-all-trades," the Premier cheerfully said to an exasperated Cabinet.
