Ivan Tattar has formally become the fourth president of the federal republic. Accepting his nomination following his election win last year, Mr Tattar has taken over from departing former president Gennadiy Artamova who served from 2011.
At his inauguration on Saturday, Tattar used his first major speech as president to plea for unity across the country saying “this is a great new time for our nation – we must grab it with open arms together.” In front of former presidents Koruin Gruaman, Pavel Lukyanov and Mr Artamova, Tattar also thanked the service of the country’s leaders adding “the strength of Polasciana today is a testament of the past and how far we have come. We thank everyone who has taken part in steering our nation to this brighter place” but said “it is now time to move on – to focus on the future and to let our history be a reminder, not an agenda.” Mr Tattar took aim at his nationalist opponents saying that he “believed the best days are ahead not in the past” and that “there is no glory in returning to the battles of history”.
As president, Mr Tattar is expected to continue major parts of his predecessor’s agenda – having long been considered Mr Artamova’s protege. His eight years as Federal Council Leader were seen as stable and lined up Tattar as Mr Artamova’s effective deputy. Now taking the reigns in his own right, Tattar will have to negotiate a split government – lining up alongside the Coalition run executive led by Prime Minister Asta Dahn. Tattar has navigated the upper house effectively but doing so as president may be more difficult, and it is yet unclear who will succeed him as Council leader. The favourite remains Leo Serrantes, the senior member from Kamchetka – but some believe Mr Tattar intends to install a much younger and fresh figure to the role, potentially creating his own protege mirroring the journey both himself and Mr Artamova took to the presidency.
The 51 year old will govern until 2023, when he will face an election, twenty years on from the country’s first democratic vote as a united republic. Mr Artamova remains the only president to be reelected, and after eight years in power leaves his role as the country’s longest serving leader.
