Europe News
Putin overwhelmingly approved as prime minister (Roundup)
By DPA
May 8, 2008, 12:19 GMT

Moscow - Vladimir Putin was confirmed as prime minister Thursday in a near unanimous parliamentary vote that underscored his continued power one day after handing the Kremlin to his protege Dmitry Medvedev.

The vote of 392 out of 448 delegates present in favour of Putin's nomination was broadcast live on Russian state television marking the culmination of what critics saw as a months-long, Kremlin- orchestrated plan to circumvent democracy and guarantee Putin's continued influence.

But the rearrangement of power over less than 24 hours effectively splits Russia's leadership, raising doubts over who will really rule.

   Medvedev recommended Putin to delegates at the extraordinary session Thursday vowing to work in 'tandem' with his long-time mentor.

   'I think nobody has any doubt that our tandem, our cooperation, will become stronger,' Medvedev promised.

Putin will play a 'key role' as head of the government, Medvedev added, voicing resolve to pursue Putin's policy plan for development through 2020.

   Putin then took the stand and in classic style delivered 45-minute statistics-filled speech mapping Russia's path toward becoming a 'land with one of the best standards of living and security for its citizens in the 10 to 15 years to come.'

Now at the peak of his popularity and power, Putin is credited with pulling Russia out of the economic chaos of the 1990s to a powerful position on the world stage with one of most promising economies and a resurgent military might.

Russia's 1.3 trillion dollar economy has been growing by 7-8 per cent in the last 7 years, and Putin swore Thursday it would replace Britain as the world's sixth strongest economy.

But the questions addressed to Putin by a few opposition delegates during the plenary session highlighted future challenges ranging from sky-rocketing inflation, housing prices and abuse in the army to unbridled corruption.

Putin's power base United Russia forewent its assigned questions instead reiterating its endorsement of everything Putin.

The new prime minister called Thursday for increased dependences on social programmes and infrastructure repeating promises central to Medvedev's campaign when he expenditure of Russia's oil-rich budget to these areas.

Many believe Medvedev's rise as Putin's hand-picked successor hails a period of more liberal policies. At 42, he is Russia's youngest president ever, having made his career as a corporate lawyer after the fall of the Soviet Union.

Unlike Putin, 55, Medvedev does not have a KGB background, leading observers to predict a thaw in Russia's hawkish foreign policy.

Medvedev, standing for his inauguration speech in the Kremlin's gilded throne room Wednesday, said his main goals were to encourage 'civil and economic freedoms.'

Putin's bellicose, thinly veiled anti-Western rhetoric were significantly absent from Medvedev lexicon Thursday when he assumed control of the commander-and-chief's briefcase of nuclear launch codes.

But Medvedev's first star appearance Friday marks Russia's largest military display since the fall of the Soviet Union, when tanks, heavy artillery, troops and jets are set to stream over the Red Square in remembrance of WWII Victory Day.

Medvedev's Kremlin job consolidates the top state powers under the constitution, and Russia has a long tradition of authority concentrated in one leader.

   But many believe Putin will carry more weight than Medvedev, although the prime minister has in the past been a weaker, lower profile job.

Analysts point to recent Kremlin moves ahead of Thursday to pad the shoulders of the premier's post: re-delegating responsibility for mundane tasks to allow Putin to maintain a strategic and not immediately accountable role.

   In tandem with Medvedev's inauguration Wednesday, Putin officially became head of United Russia, which controls a majority big enough to pass constitutional changes.

Critics accuse Putin of transforming the parliament into a rubber-stamp body and rolling-back democratic and personal freedoms.

The Communist Party, the only opposition faction in the 450- delegate parliament, made up the only 56 votes against Putin's confirmation.

An anti-Putin protest this week that was cancelled under police pressure was summarily covered on state television Tuesday, and rights campaigners expect the state's monopoly over media coverage to continue in spite of Medvedev's statements in favour of increased freedoms.