Russian Communist Party won’t support Medvedev for PM

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Communist parliamentary group in the Russian Duma said on Tuesday, May 8, it will vote against Dmitry Medvedev’s candidacy for Prime Minister after 90-minute consultations with the candidate this morning, a party member said, according to RIA Novosti.

"The group will vote against [him]," Vladimir Bessonov said.

Ex-president Medvedev is holding traditional consultations with parliamentary factions before the lawmakers will vote on his candidacy at 3 pm Moscow time on Tuesday. President Vladimir Putin submitted Medvedev’s candidacy to the State Duma on Monday shortly after his inauguration as president for a third term.

Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov said the country needs a new policy line and modernization.

"We cannot support Medvedev, because he will stick to the same policy that has led the country into a dead-end," he said, adding that the party was prepared to cooperate with the new government regardless.

On Monday afternoon, Medvedev met with members of the ruling United Russia faction and the Liberal-Democratic Party (LDPR) who promised to vote in his favor on Tuesday. He will talk to the left-wing A Just Russia later on Tuesday

A Just Russia leader Sergei Mironov has already called on party members to unanimously vote against the proposed premier or not to turn up at the voting at all and threatened punishment for those who refuse to follow his instructions.

“We must pursue a sensible pragmatic position,” he said.

To be approved to the post, Medvedev will have to gain the majority of votes in the 450-seat Duma, which is at least 226 votes. United Russia, which earlier proposed Medvedev as its leader, holds 238 seats.