AFP

Russian President Vladimir Putin at a Christmas service in Sochi.

Alexei Kudrin is seen as having good chances to succeed Dmitry Medvedev as Russian prime minister. In a SPIEGEL interview, he speaks about the need for more democracy in his country, President Putin’s pragmatism and the dangers still facing the euro zone.

SPIEGEL: Mr. Kudrin, why have you described the past year as being, both politically and economically, a lost year for Russia? It sounds bitter.

Kudrin: Economic reform came to a standstill, and political reforms didn’t produce the results I had hoped for. Although people can now elect governors directly once again, there are too many obstacles for candidates that are not backed by the government. But I do see one important, positive trend: A new, active civil society has developed.

SPIEGEL: But isn’t it already on the wane once again? The number of people attending…