Putin May Head Russian Energy Giant

MOSCOW — Vladimir Putin is in line to become the new chairman of Russia's state energy giant, Gazprom, following his retirement as president this May.

Mr. Putin's name is believed to have been among 42 applications submitted for the post — with few doubting his candidacy would outshine all others. The appointment would cement Mr. Putin's political influence beyond his presidency. Already in line to become prime minister following the election on March 2, Mr. Putin would gain control of a company so vast and politically connected it is regularly referred to as "Kremlin Inc."

The chairmanship is currently filled by Dmitry Medvedev, the loyalist and longtime friend that Mr. Putin has chosen to replace him when he formally steps down.

The Kremlin has shown in the past that it is prepared to use Gazprom's muscle — it controls 16% of international gas reserves — to exert political influence. It cut off supplies to Ukraine in 2006 — a move that alarmed the European Union, which relies heavily on Russian gas.

There was also speculation that Mr. Putin could step down as prime minister to take up the appointment at Gazprom's annual general meeting in June. With the prime minister's powers theoretically constrained by the constitution, Mr. Putin could wield more unfettered influence in a post whose authority is not delineated. ""Common sense suggests that it would be beneficial for Putin to leave the post of prime minister and head Gazprom," a leading political analyst, Leonid Radzikhovsky, said.