Putin confirmed Russian prime minister

Source: CCTV.com | 05-09-2008 09:02

In Russia, lawmakers confirmed Vladimir Putin as prime minister on Thursday, one day after Putin handed the presidency to his successor Dmitry Medvedev.

Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev (R)  and former president Vladimir Putin (L)  stand after the ceremony of inauguration  in Moscow's Kremlin throne room May 7,  2008. Medvedev was sworn in as Russian  president on Wednesday and just over  two hours later nominated his predecessor  Putin as prime minister, ushering in an  unprecedented period of dual rule. (Xinhua/reuters Photo)

Russia's lower house of Parliament, the State Duma, approved Putin in an overwhelming vote of 392 to 56.

Presenting his nominee to a full house at the Duma on Thursday, President Medvedev said that Putin had restored the world's respect for Russia and improved the lives of its citizens during his eight years as president.

Medvedev said, "There is no need to specially recommend Vladimir Putin, he has two presidential terms behind him. And you know what those terms were like. You know how decisive they were for our country. And all the success we managed to achieve gave us the opportunity to move our society forward to leading edge."

Medvedev said he would sign a decree making Putin prime minister later in the day.

Putin, in response, appealed to Russian patriotism and the need to support the armed forces.

Putin said, "Only battle ready, well equipped armed forces with high morale will be capable to defend the country's sovereignty and integrity. More then 300 models of weapons and military equipment have been added to our armory starting from 2001. And this is not enough."

The switch comes after months of political arrangement by the popular Putin to maintain a role in ruling Russia after stepping down.

Barred by term limits from running in the March presidential vote, he anointed Medvedev as his favored successor in December and pledged to serve as his prime minister.

Medvedev formally nominated Putin in one of his first acts as president on Wednesday.

His confirmation was never in doubt in the Duma, where his United Russia party holds 315 of the 450 seats.

Editor:Du Xiaodan