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Russia's finance chief rejects Medvedev post
Source: Agencies |
September 26, 2011, Monday
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RUSSIA'S finance minister has said he will step down rather than serve under Dmitry Medvedev if the president becomes prime minister next year as planned.
Alexei Kudrin has been finance minister since 2000 and his conservative fiscal policies are widely credited with helping Russia weather the 2008-09 global financial crisis.
He is close to Vladimir Putin, the current prime minister, who on Saturday announced his intention to return to the presidency next year. Putin said he would be naming Medvedev as prime minister.
Kudrin said he would not serve in Medvedev's government because of disagreements over economic policy. Specifically he cited Medvedev's plans to increase military spending.
Kudrin told reporters at the annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank: "I do not see myself in the new government, and it is not just that I have not been offered the job. Those differences of opinion that I have will not allow me to join the government."
During Putin's presidency from 2000 to 2008, Kudrin stashed some of the revenue from Russia's oil exports in a stabilization fund.
In doing so, he faced strong opposition from other government ministers who wanted to spend the money, but when the financial crisis hit and oil prices fell, those savings proved crucial in cushioning the blow.
Putin's spokesman said Kudrin has never hidden his disagreements with Putin or Medvedev on economic policies.
"He is a professional economist," he said. "He is an economist with a capital letter."
Kudrin, 50, had been mentioned as a possible prime minister under Putin if he returned to the presidency.
Alexei Kudrin has been finance minister since 2000 and his conservative fiscal policies are widely credited with helping Russia weather the 2008-09 global financial crisis.
He is close to Vladimir Putin, the current prime minister, who on Saturday announced his intention to return to the presidency next year. Putin said he would be naming Medvedev as prime minister.
Kudrin said he would not serve in Medvedev's government because of disagreements over economic policy. Specifically he cited Medvedev's plans to increase military spending.
Kudrin told reporters at the annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank: "I do not see myself in the new government, and it is not just that I have not been offered the job. Those differences of opinion that I have will not allow me to join the government."
During Putin's presidency from 2000 to 2008, Kudrin stashed some of the revenue from Russia's oil exports in a stabilization fund.
In doing so, he faced strong opposition from other government ministers who wanted to spend the money, but when the financial crisis hit and oil prices fell, those savings proved crucial in cushioning the blow.
Putin's spokesman said Kudrin has never hidden his disagreements with Putin or Medvedev on economic policies.
"He is a professional economist," he said. "He is an economist with a capital letter."
Kudrin, 50, had been mentioned as a possible prime minister under Putin if he returned to the presidency.
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