MOSCOW - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday named First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev as his favoured candidate to succeed him, putting the softly-spoken lawyer in poll position to win next year's presidential vote.
Putin backed Medvedev, who is also chairman of gas giant Gazprom, at a meeting with party leaders, ending months of feverish speculation about who the popular president would anoint to replace him when he steps down.
"I have known him very closely for more than 17 years and I completely and fully support this proposal," Itar-Tass news agency quoted Putin as saying after the leader of his United Russia party, Boris Gryzlov, proposed Medvedev.
United Russia holds a congress on December 17 and it is expected there to nominate officially Medvedev as its candidate in the presidential vote, which is to take place on March 2.
Observers regard Medvedev as the less hawkish and more business-friendly of the officials in Putin's team who had been named as potential successors.
-
The dire American political situation: a brief overview for faithful Christians in Britain
-
Conversion therapy ban supporters want prayer to be criminalised - this must not be allowed
-
Why the US election results do not bode well for America
-
Police appeal for witnesses after head smashed off Jesus statue at church war memorial
-
Are we seeing the end of Western civilisation?
-
Archaeologists may have discovered identity of mystery skeleton in Westminster Abbey
Most Popular
News
Calls for inquiry into Queensland assisted suicide system
Despite the rise in deaths, the watering down of safeguards has been proposed.
Justin Welby says government reparations for slavery a ‘moral evil’
Welby was supportive of Project Spire during his time as Archbishop of Canterbury.
South Sudanese churches work for peace as tensions mount
South Sudan is the world's youngest sovereign nation.
Alister McGrath: New Atheism has ‘tanked’
“I am seeing a growth in young people wanting to talk about Christianity."
