Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov has managed to secure the president’s confidence despite resistance of some in the Kremlin.
Photo: Valery Levitin
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Putin Nominates Moscow Mayor for Fifth Term
Russian President Vladimir Putin nominated Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov Friday night for a new term in office. It is still open to dispute, however, whether the incumbent mayor will stay in office till the end of his term, analysts say.
The president’s office reported late Friday night that Vladimir Putin had signed a decree to send to the Moscow City Duma to prolong the mayor’s term. The document did not reach the legislature that night, although Moscow Duma Speaker Vladimir Platonov stayed at work till 1 am, according to Kommersant sources.
The city leader is likely to be endorsed in a majority vote at the City Duma which is controlled by the Kremlin-loyal United Russia. “We have been declaring our willingness to nominate and support Yuri Luzhkov [for mayor] since the new lineup of the Duma in December 2005,” Andrey Metelsky, head of the United Russia faction at the Moscow City Duma, told Kommersant. “We haven’t changed our position.”
Analysts note that Mr. Luzhkov may not stay in office till the end of the new term. The so-called St. Petersburg community in the Kremlin has long been anxious to gain control over the city. Dmitry Badovsky, deputy director of the Social Systems Institute, says Yuri Luzhkov may have to step down after the 2008 presidential election which may bring a St. Petersburg native to power.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of June 25, 2007
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