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| Medvedev says Putin should be PM | Medvedev says Putin should be PM |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Russian President Vladimir Putin should become prime minister after stepping down next year, his chosen successor Dmitry Medvedev says. | Russian President Vladimir Putin should become prime minister after stepping down next year, his chosen successor Dmitry Medvedev says. |
| Mr Putin named Mr Medvedev, a first deputy prime minister, on Monday as his favourite for the presidency. Mr Putin is due to step down in March. | Mr Putin named Mr Medvedev, a first deputy prime minister, on Monday as his favourite for the presidency. Mr Putin is due to step down in March. |
| Mr Medvedev was previously Mr Putin's chief of staff and is chairman of the gas giant Gazprom. | Mr Medvedev was previously Mr Putin's chief of staff and is chairman of the gas giant Gazprom. |
| Mr Medvedev has said economic gains must fund "a real social programme". | Mr Medvedev has said economic gains must fund "a real social programme". |
| "I appeal to (President Putin) with a request to give his agreement in principle to head the Russian government after the election of the new president of our country," Mr Medvedev said on Russian television on Tuesday. | "I appeal to (President Putin) with a request to give his agreement in principle to head the Russian government after the election of the new president of our country," Mr Medvedev said on Russian television on Tuesday. |
| "It's one thing to elect a president - it's no less important to maintain the efficiency of the team," he said. | "It's one thing to elect a president - it's no less important to maintain the efficiency of the team," he said. |
| Hot favourite | Hot favourite |
| Mr Medvedev is seen as a strong candidate - thanks to Mr Putin's own popularity. He hails from Mr Putin's native St Petersburg. | Mr Medvedev is seen as a strong candidate - thanks to Mr Putin's own popularity. He hails from Mr Putin's native St Petersburg. |
| Many are sure that he will win the elections in the first round Commentary in Vremya Novostey Press sees Putin guiding Medvedev | Many are sure that he will win the elections in the first round Commentary in Vremya Novostey Press sees Putin guiding Medvedev |
| Mr Putin is constitutionally obliged to quit after his second presidential term ends next year, but he is expected to retain strong political influence. | Mr Putin is constitutionally obliged to quit after his second presidential term ends next year, but he is expected to retain strong political influence. |
| Mr Medvedev says he wants the benefits of economic growth to reach all sections of Russian society. | Mr Medvedev says he wants the benefits of economic growth to reach all sections of Russian society. |
| "Now we need to convert all the successes achieved in the past eight years into real programmes," he said. | "Now we need to convert all the successes achieved in the past eight years into real programmes," he said. |
| If elected president, he said, he would pay the greatest attention to social issues. | If elected president, he said, he would pay the greatest attention to social issues. |
| Putin pushes young allyProfile: Dmitry Medvedev Mr Medvedev was addressing leaders of the four pro-Kremlin parties backing him, including United Russia, the party which won a landslide victory in parliamentary elections earlier this month. | Putin pushes young allyProfile: Dmitry Medvedev Mr Medvedev was addressing leaders of the four pro-Kremlin parties backing him, including United Russia, the party which won a landslide victory in parliamentary elections earlier this month. |
| The 42-year-old former lawyer managed Mr Putin's election campaign in 2000. | The 42-year-old former lawyer managed Mr Putin's election campaign in 2000. |
| As first deputy prime minister he has overseen national programmes in the areas of health, housing and education. | As first deputy prime minister he has overseen national programmes in the areas of health, housing and education. |
| Russia has made huge economic gains as a result of soaring international oil prices. | Russia has made huge economic gains as a result of soaring international oil prices. |
| The government has been facing demands to channel energy revenues into pensions, benefits and parts of the country's infrastructure that have been decaying since the collapse of the Soviet Union. | The government has been facing demands to channel energy revenues into pensions, benefits and parts of the country's infrastructure that have been decaying since the collapse of the Soviet Union. |
| Pressure for continuity | Pressure for continuity |
| Mr Putin has made it clear he will retain a significant national leadership role after he leaves office at the end of his second term. | Mr Putin has made it clear he will retain a significant national leadership role after he leaves office at the end of his second term. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY He seems like a solid individual who will appeal to the next generation of Russians Christopher, Moscow Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY He seems like a solid individual who will appeal to the next generation of Russians Christopher, Moscow Send us your comments |
| He has said he expects Mr Medvedev to provide continuity. | He has said he expects Mr Medvedev to provide continuity. |
| "We have the chance to form a stable government after the elections in March 2008. And not just a stable government, but one that will carry out the course that has brought results for all of the past eight years," Mr Putin said on Monday. | "We have the chance to form a stable government after the elections in March 2008. And not just a stable government, but one that will carry out the course that has brought results for all of the past eight years," Mr Putin said on Monday. |
| United Russia leader Boris Gryzlov highlighted Mr Medvedev's role in managing national projects aimed at raising Russian living standards. | United Russia leader Boris Gryzlov highlighted Mr Medvedev's role in managing national projects aimed at raising Russian living standards. |
| "Dmitry Anatolyevich (Medvedev) oversees national projects," he said. | "Dmitry Anatolyevich (Medvedev) oversees national projects," he said. |
| "He oversees the demographic programme and we believe that it is precisely the issues to do with raising standards of living that are the most important issues for the forthcoming four-year period." |