Putin ally, Gryzlov, favors premiership

MOSCOW, April 7 (UPI) -- The speaker of the Russian lower house of parliament said Monday the body is set to approve departing President Vladimir Putin as Russia's next prime minister.

State Duma speaker Boris Gryzlov said Putin's transition to prime minister will follow the May 7 inauguration of his protege, Dmitry Medvedev, to the Russian presidency, RIA Novosti reported.

Gryzlov is a close ally of Putin and both are associated with the United Russia political party.

Medvedev won 70 percent of the March 2 presidential contest, but many Russian observers thought Putin would remain behind the scenes as the veritable ruler of Russia, continuing his eight-year legacy.

The Russian constitution mandates the dissolution of the former presidential cabinet and gives two weeks for the incoming president to nominate a prime minister who will form a new government.

The opposition Liberal Democratic and Communist parties insisted minority parties needed further consultation before a new premier is selected.