Putin backs Medvedev as United Russia party's candidate
{{date|December 10, 2007}}
{{Russia}}
[[Image:MedvedevD.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Dmitry Medvedev on July 27, 2007. {{Image source|[http://foto.mail.ru/mail/b_oberon/ Борис Сухинин]}}]]
Today, [[Dmitry Medvedev]] was named the candidate for {{w|President of Russia|President}} of [[Russia]] by the ruling party {{w|United Russia}}, which holds majority in the newly-elected [[State Duma]], the lower parliament of Russia. 

Medvedev, who is the current deputy prime minister of the {{w|Government of Russia|Russian government}} and the chairman in the board of directors of {{w|Gazprom}}, was also backed by three other parties and by the current president [[Vladimir Putin]]. This means the highly anticipated decision about the supposed successor has been announced.

"I have known him for more than 17 years, I have worked with him very closely all these years, and I fully and completely support this candidacy," Putin said. "We have the chance to form a stable government after the elections in March 2008. And not just a stable government, but one that will carry out the course that has brought results for all of the past eight years."

The declaration was unofficial: the formal nomination is expected on December 17, during United Russia's party conference.

The {{w|Russian presidential election, 2008|Russian presidential election}} is scheduled to be held on March 2, 2008.

{{haveyoursay}}

== Sources ==
{{wikipediapars|[[w:Russian presidential election, 2008|Russian presidential election, 2008]] and [[w:Dmitry Medvedev|Dmitry Medvedev]]}}
*{{source|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/12/10/medvedev.russia/index.html
|title=Putin backs Medvedev as successor
|author=|pub=CNN
|date=December 10, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7136347.stm
|title=Putin sees Medvedev as successor 
|author=|pub=BBC News Online
|date=December 10, 2007}} 

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[[Category:Europe]]
[[Category:Russia]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Elections]]
[[Category:Dmitry Medvedev]]
[[Category:Vladimir Putin]]
[[Category:Russian Federal Assembly]]
[[Category:Russian State Duma]]

[[ru:Преемником Путина назван Медведев]]
Dmitry Medvedev on July 27, 2007. 
Today, Dmitry Medvedev was named the candidate for President of Russia by the ruling party , which holds majority in the newly-elected State Duma, the lower parliament of Russia. 

Medvedev, who is the current deputy prime minister of the Russian government and the chairman in the board of directors of , was also backed by three other parties and by the current president Vladimir Putin. This means the highly anticipated decision about the supposed successor has been announced.

"I have known him for more than 17 years, I have worked with him very closely all these years, and I fully and completely support this candidacy," Putin said. "We have the chance to form a stable government after the elections in March 2008. And not just a stable government, but one that will carry out the course that has brought results for all of the past eight years."

The declaration was unofficial: the formal nomination is expected on December 17, during United Russia's party conference.

The Russian presidential election is scheduled to be held on March 2, 2008.
Europe Russia Politics and conflicts Elections Dmitry Medvedev Vladimir Putin Russian Federal Assembly Russian State Duma