Fired Cabinet stays at work temporarily, Putin address

Описание: (25 Feb 2004)

1. Wide of interior Russian parliament (Upper House) room, President Putin seated in between (left) out-going Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov and (right) in-coming Prime Minister Viktor Khristenko
2. UPSOUND: (Russian) Vladimir Putin, Russian president:
"Yesterday Mikhail Kasyanov explained to me that today is the first time a president has come to the White House (the government''''''''s headquarters) after a reshuffle. But this is understood, considering all previous events of this kind have been during times of trouble or conflict."
2. SOUNDBITE: (Russian) Vladimir Putin, Russian president:
"What is happening now is practically a planned event. The question might arise - why am I doing this and whether this should have been done three weeks before the Russian presidential elections. I have two reasons for this: a political reason and a administrative one. The political reason is that I can and therefore must introduce a candidate to become a new Prime Minister before the elections."
3. Mid shot Putin seated next to Khristenko (no soundbite)
4. Mid shot ministers listening
5. SOUNDBITE: (Russian) Russian President Vladimir Putin:
"If you look at the Russian Constitution, then you will see that a government must be dismissed during the Presidential elections and the new government can only be set up in early June of the same year."
6. Mid shot Putin
7. Cutaway Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov
8. Cutaway ministers
9. Wide interior government meeting

STORYLINE:

Ministers in the Russian Cabinet, fired a day earlier by President Vladimir Putin, continued their work in a temporary capacity on Wednesday, while observers looked for clues as to who might take over.

Putin, in an address to the acting Cabinet, gave no indication of his choice. But he said his dismissal of the government was "actually planned" to happen before the presidential elections on March to avoid dragging the government until the summer. He also claimed that he wanted to "save time in reaching the efficiency of (the government''''''''s) work sooner."

"I consider it necessary to acquaint the public with the person" whom he will nominate, Putin said in televised remarks without naming his candidate.

Putin had long been expected to get rid of Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov, but the timing of his move came as a surprise, coming less than three weeks before Russia''''''''s presidential elections. Under Russian law, the prime minister and his Cabinet formally step down after a presidential election, although all ministers can be re-appointed.

Some observers said Kasyanov''''''''s ouster was intended to enliven the dull presidential race which Putin is expected to win easily. At least 50 percent of eligible voters must show up at the polls to make the election valid, and the Kremlin reportedly is concerned that public apathy may jeopardize the required turnout.

Putin named Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Khristenko, widely perceived as a yes-man for the president, as interim premier and Khristenko is to meet on Thursday with the Cabinet, whom Putin asked to stay on as "acting" ministers.

But most analysts said Khristenko has little chance to stay on. Putin has two weeks to submit his nomination for a new prime
minister to the legislature.

Many observers named Alexei Kudrin, who served as first deputy to Kasyanov and shares Putin''''''''s St. Petersburg roots, as the most likely candidate.

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