In their talks, Russian officials and bankers are discussing with each other three possible candidates for the post of head of the Central Bank, Elvira Nabiullina, The Bell newspaper writes. Her term ends on June 24, 2027.
One of the possible candidates is Deputy Head of the Russian Presidential Administration Maxim Oreshkin. However, according to The Bell’s source, Oreshkin “wanted to, but now it seems he doesn’t want to – he’s doing well in his position in the Kremlin.”
Another possible replacement for Nabiullina is the head of Promsviaz Bank, Pyotr Fradkov, the son of former Prime Minister and head of the Foreign Intelligence Service Mikhail Fradkov. Bell’s source notes that Fradkov’s nomination “may have been discussed, because PSB is now one of the most important banks.”
The third candidate is the head of VTB Andrei Kostin. “But Kostin doesn’t like this idea – he’s already fine, Oreshkin wants to become prime minister even more, and Fradkov agrees with everything. Nabiullina herself wants to be released, but she has mixed feelings,” says The Bell’s interviewer.
As the publication notes, the decision to appoint the head of the Central Bank of Russia is made by only one person – Vladimir Putin, and so far, according to sources, the new nomination is not being discussed “neither in a wide nor in a narrow circle.” “Nabiulina herself is proceeding from the fact that she is working until the end of her term without extension,” one of her acquaintances told reporters.
For Nabiulina, this is the third term, and the last under the law. But two federal officials say, “The law can always be changed.”