Putin’s decree on creation of President’s Council that will supervise the progress in prior national projects will be promulgated in the near term. Putin himself plans to chair the Council that will actually act as a parallel government in Russia.
In addition, it will supervise the spending, eye progress in business talks with suppliers and control efficiency of project work, actually performing the duties of Cabinet in Russia. In view that Vladimir Putin intends to head the new body himself, the following conclusion could be easily reached – the president attempts to undertake a certain portion of PM’s duties. In other words, two years before the parliament’s elections, the material transfer of power from prime minister to the president is well underway.
http://www.kommersant.com/page.asp?id=607283