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Putin accepts cabinet resignation Putin names next prime minister
(41 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 PM Mikhail Fradkov and nominated a financial crime investigator to replace him.
Victor Zubkov, head of the federal financial monitoring service, is a relative unknown in Russian politics.
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. The lower house of the Russian parliament, the Duma, is set to vote on Mr Zubkov's nomination on Friday.
Analysts say deputy prime minister Sergei Ivanov could now become PM, six months before a presidential election. Mr Putin asked Mr Fradkov to stay on as acting prime minister until his replacement is confirmed.
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 powerPath 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 Putin is barred by Russia's constitution from running for a third term as president in elections in March.
Whoever becomes the new prime minister is expected to be the clear front-runner to replace Mr Putin in March, says the BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes in Moscow. Whoever becomes the new prime minister gains a strong platform from which to campaign to replace Mr Putin, correspondents say.
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.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. First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov has long been considered a frontrunner for the presidency, and Russian media had been speculating that he could be made premier.
In February, Mr Putin moved Mr Ivanov from his position as defence minister, making him first deputy prime minister.
In the late 1990s, Mr Ivanov worked under Mr Putin in the FSB, the internal intelligence agency, and they are believed to be close.In the late 1990s, Mr Ivanov worked under Mr Putin in the FSB, the internal intelligence agency, and they are believed to be close.
A possible competitor for the presidency is the other deputy prime minister, Dmitri Medvedev. Another possible competitor for the presidency is the other deputy prime minister, Dmitri Medvedev.