Putin names new prime minister

President Vladimir Putin today nominated Mikhail Fradkov, a former tax police chief who is Russia’s representative to the European Union, to the post of prime minister.

Putin named Fradkov, an unexpected choice, during a meeting with leading lawmakers from the dominant pro-Kremlin party.

In televised comments from the Kremlin meeting, Putin said that the choice was “not a simple task” and that the nominee had to be a “highly professional, orderly person with good experience in various branches of state activity”.

The nomination came six days after Putin surprised the nation by dismissing longtime Cabinet chief Mikhail Kasyanov less than a month before Russia’s presidential election, which the incumbent is expected to win easily.

Putin’s nominee is subject to approval by the Duma, but the legislature’s support is not in doubt because the pro-Kremlin United Russia party holds more than 300 seats in the 450-member chamber. Duma speaker Boris Gryzlov said lawmakers would consider the nomination on Wednesday.

Putin had been widely expected to fire Kasyanov after the March 14 presidential election, which he is virtually certain to win. Some analysts said the ouster was timed to increase public interest in the presidential campaign in order to raise turnout for the vote.

At least 50% of eligible voters must cast ballots for the election to be valid.