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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Putin accepts cabinet resignation | Putin accepts cabinet resignation |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Russian President Vladimir Putin has accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov and his entire government, the Kremlin has said. | Russian President Vladimir Putin has accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov and his entire government, the Kremlin has said. |
| Mr Fradkov offered to resign, citing "approaching significant political events", said Tass news agency. | Mr Fradkov offered to resign, citing "approaching significant political events", said Tass news agency. |
| He said he wanted to give President Putin "full freedom of decision including staff decisions", Tass said. | He said he wanted to give President Putin "full freedom of decision including staff decisions", Tass said. |
| Analysts say Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov could now become PM, six months before a presidential election. | Analysts say Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov could now become PM, six months before a presidential election. |
| Mr Putin has asked Mr Fradkov to stay on as acting prime minister until the Duma approves a new one, Russian NTV said. | Mr Putin has asked Mr Fradkov to stay on as acting prime minister until the Duma approves a new one, Russian NTV said. |
| "We all have to think together how to build a structure of power so that it better corresponds to the pre-election period and prepares the country for the period after the presidential election in March," Mr Putin said in accepting Mr Fradkov's resignation. | "We all have to think together how to build a structure of power so that it better corresponds to the pre-election period and prepares the country for the period after the presidential election in March," Mr Putin said in accepting Mr Fradkov's resignation. |
| Path to power | |
| Elections to the Duma, or parliament, are to be held in December. | Elections to the Duma, or parliament, are to be held in December. |
| Mr Putin is barred by Russia's constitution from running for a third term as president. | |
| Mr Ivanov may be following Mr Putin's path to power: then-President Boris Yeltsin named Mr Putin prime minister in 1999. He was elected president a few months later. | |
| None of Russia's political heavyweights has yet declared his candidacy and Mr Putin has not yet publicly endorsed anyone. | |
| But speculation in Russian media is running high that Mr Ivanov is being groomed for the presidency and he has been seen frequently in Mr Putin's company in recent months. |