Before Zubkov’s nomination, reports swirled that the next prime minister would become Putin’s presidential successor, with Sergei Ivanov, a current deputy prime minister, dubbed the most likely candidate. But Ivanov, who is perceived as “strong,” would provide unwelcome competition to Putin, who, after all, remains a “strong” president.
在祖布科夫被提名前，媒体纷纷流传下一任总理会成为普京的总统继承人，而现任副总理伊万诺夫是最有可能的候选人。但是伊万诺夫被认为很“强势”的人，会给普京带来令人不快的竞争，因为后者不管怎样依然是一位“强势”的总统。如果他现在就提名伊万诺夫，那么普京的权力现在就会开始被慢慢地蚕食。