Russian Communist Party won’t support Medvedev for PMMay 8, 2012 - 13:20 AMT 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. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Putin congratulates Pashinyan’s birthday Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his birthday on June 1. Opposition motorcade en route to Gyumri for large rally A motorcade of protesters headed by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan is heading to the city of Gyumri. Ruling MPs, Foreign Minister talk Armenia-Azerbaijan processes MOs from the ruling Civil Contract party met with the Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in the Armenian parliament. Russia: Armenia’s frozen membership weakens CSTO position in Caucasus A Russian envoy said any step that could alienate the CSTO member states from each other is “deeply wrong”. |