By DPA
Moscow : President Vladimir Putin Monday backed the candidature of First Deputy Prime Minister Dimitry Medvedev as president when four political parties proposed him for the March 2 vote.
At a meeting with party leaders, Putin said he “fully and completely” supported Medvedev’s candidacy.
The four pro-Kremlin parties – United Russia, A Just Russia, A Civil Front and the Agrarian Party – are set to officially nominate a candidate each during their parallel party congresses next Monday.
With no favourite in sight a bare three months before the presidential elections, whichever candidate Putin backs as his successor is widely expected to win, riding on his more than 70-per-cent popularity ratings.
Medvedev has long been seen to be competing for airtime and political favour against fellow First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov.
Medvedev, who chairs Gazprom’s board of directors, is not a member of any party and can thus be nominated by all four political parties.
All candidates for the presidential elections must be registered by the Central Election Commission’s Dec 26 deadline.