One day after Vladimir Putin was sworn in as Russia's new president, the country's lower house of parliament approved Dmitry Medvedev as prime minister in the new government. This vote marks the completion of a job swap between the country’s top two leaders.
299 Yeses, 144 Nos.
Russia’s State Duma on Tuesday approved Dmitry Medvedev as the country’s new prime minister.
Russia's former President and prime ministerial candidate Dmitry Medvedev speaks
during a session of the Russian State Duma in Moscow May 8, 2012.
He was backed by two of the four Duma factions: the United Russia and the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia.
Communists and A Just Russia lawmakers voted against him.
Medvedev now has just one week to assemble his cabinet for the president’s approval.
Addressing the Duma, Medvedev said the new government will focus on economic and social issues and would be prepared for dialogue with all political parties.
Medvedev said, "I will work hard to keep all the promises that were announced by the Russian President and me in the course of the last political events. And am absolutely sure that if we work together we will be able to achieve these results."
Medvedev served as deputy prime minister from 2005 to 2008 and as president from 2008 to 2012.
In April, he announced that he would join the ruling United Russia party and take up the party’s leadership after Putin was elected president.
During his presidency, Medvedev focused on political reform, economic modernization, anti-corruption, and promoting innovation in science and technology.
Russia's former President and prime ministerial candidate Dmitry Medvedev attends
during a session of the Russian State Duma in Moscow May 8, 2012.
Russia's President Vladimir Putin (R) speaks with former President and prime
ministerial candidate Dmitry Medvedev at a session of the Russian State Duma in
Moscow May 8, 2012.
Russia's President Vladimir Putin attends a session of the Russian State Duma in
Moscow May 8, 2012.
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