Ivanov boosts profile as possible Putin successor

MOSCOW, Feb 23 (Reuters) Russia's former defence minister Sergei Ivanov, promoted in government last week, has been handed powerful new duties in strategic areas that significantly boost his profile as a possible successor to President Vladimir Putin.

Ivanov, made a first deputy prime minister, will oversee industrial policy, transport and communications as well as national security, weapons sales, space, missiles production and nuclear non-proliferation, a government decree said.

The February 15 promotion of Ivanov, a former KGB career agent like Putin himself, theoretically put him on a par with Dmitry Medvedev, also seen as a leading contender for the Kremlin when Putin steps down in 2008.

But Putin's promotion has added considerable clout to his old friend's standing in the eyes of the Russian establishment, giving him influence beyond just the military complex.

It also adds billions of dollars more budget money and duties that enhance his profile in the eyes of voters, analysts said.

According to the decree, published on the government's Web site www.government.ru. late on Thursday, Medvedev keeps control of four ''national projects'' aimed at improving health, education, housing and farming.

He also has responsibility for migration, mass media, natural resources and the court and legal system.

Now Ivanov, 54, also has the benefit of publicity from electorally-attractive policies, said Sergei Markov, a political analyst with close ties to the Kremlin.

''Ivanov has received a significant boost to his influence and what is very important is that many of his duties are very electorally attractive,'' Markov told Reuters.

''Whereas before the most electorally attractive projects were with Medvedev -- the socially orientated national projects which stay with him of course -- now Sergei Ivanov also has some very attractive projects,'' Markov said.

''Ivanov will be in charge of those sectors that Russians want to be proud of -- for example space and aviation -- that is very attractive electorally,'' he said.

Interfax news agency reported on Friday that Ivanov and Medvedev, 41, had both boosted their approval ratings, according to a new opinion poll.

The Moscow-based Levada Centre found that 24 percent of Russians had confidence in Ivanov, up from 15 percent in January.

Medvedev, chairman of gas giant Gazprom and also a first deputy prime minister, earned the confidence of 21 percent of Russians, up from 14 percent last month, the poll found.

Putin kept his dominance of the political stage with an approval rating of 52 percent, 3 percent more than in January, Interfax said.

Ivanov was the second most popular politician, followed by Medvedev and then Emergencies Minister Sergei Shoigu with 16 percent.

Though Medvedev and Ivanov are the public front-runners for the top job, analysts do not rule out that an hitherto unknown contender could emerge from the wings to be endorsed by Putin -- making his election a near-certainty in the March 2008 election.

Ivanov, a modest man who speaks fluent English and Swedish, built a power base in the military industrial complex after being appointed by Putin as defence minister in 2001 to bring order to the chaotic armed forces.

Control over arms sales and the military gave Ivanov sway of tens of billions of dollars and a sector dominated by the security officials who form a key part of Putin's power base.

REUTERS SAM RAI2336