Putin Strengthens Grip on Power, Becomes Party Leader

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Source: Bloomberg News

April 15 (Bloomberg) -- Outgoing Russian President Vladimir Putin became leader of the dominant party in parliament, strengthening his hold on power as he prepares to step down after eight years in office and become prime minister.

``It's a civilized, natural and traditional practice in democratic countries for the head of the executive branch to be the leader of a party,'' Putin said today in his acceptance speech at a United Russia party congress in Moscow. The speech was broadcast live on state television.

Putin will assume the party leadership after he hands over the Kremlin keys on May 7 to his chosen successor, Dmitry Medvedev. He has said he'll become prime minister, and the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, is set to confirm him in the job on May 8, a day after Medvedev's inauguration. Putin has repeatedly said he won't try to change the constitution to wrest powers from the president when he becomes premier.

Leading United Russia will boost Putin's influence ``and increase the impact of the prime minister so that he can easily run for the presidency once more'' in four years, Yevgeny Volk, a Moscow-based analyst for the Heritage Foundation, a U.S. research group, said by telephone. Putin will enjoy support ``not only from the government and the regions, but also from the party that has a majority,'' Volk said.



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