International   

Putin fires Kasyanov Government

By Vladimir Radyuhin

MOSCOW, FEB. 24. Upping his stakes in the coming presidential poll the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, has fired the Government of the Prime Minister, Mikhail Kasyanov, today.

The Deputy Prime Minister, Viktor Khristenko, was named acting Prime Minister. Announcing the Cabinet resignation in a live television broadcast, Mr. Putin said it was prompted by his desire to outline his vision for the course the country should follow after the March 14 vote, rather than by displeasure with the outgoing government. "On the whole I assess government performance as satisfactory," Mr. Putin said. "I believe the people of Russia have the right to know (my) proposals for the makeup of the country's apex executive body if I am re-elected as President of Russia," Mr. Putin said in his brief televised address. Mr. Kasyanov is the obvious target of the government reshuffle. He is the only member of the Government who lost his job today, while the other ministers were included in the caretaker Cabinet.

Analysts said by sacking Mr. Kasyanov, Mr. Putin has automatically put the blame for persisting economic problems on the Prime Minister.

The Government has been criticised for failing to use oil export windfall to alleviate widespread poverty and promote faster growth in manufacturing industries.

The RIA Novosti news agency quoted Kremlin sources as saying that the new Prime Minister will be appointed within a week. The Communist candidate in the presidential election, Nikolai Kharitonov, said Mr. Putin's move was a public relations stunt designed to raise voter turnout in the March 14 poll.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

International

News: Front Page | National | Tamil Nadu | Andhra Pradesh | Karnataka | Kerala | New Delhi | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous | Entertainment |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary | Updates: Breaking News |

Stories in this Section

• Bush takes a swipe at Kerry
• Talks will be difficult, says North Korea
• Putin fires Kasyanov Government
• Pakistan army nabs foreign militants
• Ranil, Peiris among over 6,000 candidates in fray
• Bush backs amendment banning gay marriages
• "E.U.'s Russia policy ineffective"
• Three Sikhs killed in U.S.

Copyright © 2004, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu