Russian Prez Putin retains Dmitry Medvedev as Prime Minister for his new term

NewsBharati    08-May-2018
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Moscow, May 8: Reining the tsar by sworn in as the President of Russia, Valdimir Putin has made it crystal clear by announcing that he has chosen to retain Dmitry Medvedev as Prime Minister for his new term. President Vladimir Putin stuck with his long-serving Prime Minister signaling that he would keep faith with a policy direction that has brought Russia into conflict with the West.

 

Standing on the ornately decorated dais with his hand on a gold-embossed copy of the constitution, Putin, 65, swore to serve the Russian people, to safeguard rights and freedoms, and protect Russian sovereignty.

Soon after the inauguration ceremony, the Kremlin issued a statement saying that Putin had nominated Dmitry Medvedev again to be prime minister in his new term. Medvedev, a loyal Putin lieutenant, has held the job since 2012.

While some had speculated Putin might bring in a fresh face as prime minister to kick-start reforms of the sluggish economy and revive foreign investment curtailed by stand-offs with the West.

Putin secured a new six-year term after more than 70 percent of voters backed him in a March 18 presidential election. His most dangerous challenger, Alexei Navalny, was not allowed to take part and on Saturday was detained at a protest called under the slogan: “Putin is not our tsar.”