Putin should be PM – Medevdev

MOSCOW – Dmitry Medvedev, named by President Vladimir Putin as his preferred successor, said yesterday that he wanted Putin to become prime minister in a future government after next year’s presidential election.

Putin endorsed Medvedev, a long-time close ally from St Petersburg, on Monday, making him almost certain to win the presidential election next March. Putin enjoys high popularity and pollsters say most Russians will back his choice.Analysts said the choice of Medvedev, a lawyer who has no political power base of his own, would allow Putin to carry on governing from behind the scenes.”I consider it a matter of principal importance for our country to preserve in the most important positions in the executive branch, the position of the prime minister of the government of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin,” Medvedev said in a brief statement carried live on state-run television.”Expressing my readiness to stand as a candidate in the presidential election, I ask him to agree to head the government of Russia after the election of the new president”.Medvedev also made clear that his nomination was linked to the need to continue Putin’s policies, which had led to greater respect for Russia around the world, and said he would make it a priority to raise incomes for all citizens.”Russia is different now, much stronger and better-off,” he said.”We are being respected and we are being listened to.We are not being treated as schoolchildren.”Nampa-ReutersPutin enjoys high popularity and pollsters say most Russians will back his choice.Analysts said the choice of Medvedev, a lawyer who has no political power base of his own, would allow Putin to carry on governing from behind the scenes.”I consider it a matter of principal importance for our country to preserve in the most important positions in the executive branch, the position of the prime minister of the government of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin,” Medvedev said in a brief statement carried live on state-run television.”Expressing my readiness to stand as a candidate in the presidential election, I ask him to agree to head the government of Russia after the election of the new president”.Medvedev also made clear that his nomination was linked to the need to continue Putin’s policies, which had led to greater respect for Russia around the world, and said he would make it a priority to raise incomes for all citizens.”Russia is different now, much stronger and better-off,” he said.”We are being respected and we are being listened to.We are not being treated as schoolchildren.”Nampa-Reuters