Putin: government should prepare for his premiership

Vladimir Putin confirmed that hi was going to become the prime minister, if Dmitry Medvedev is elected as new president.

Putin said that he would accept premier’s post and asked Russian government Thursday to work harder than ever before the March presidential election to prepare for his taking over, the AP reports.

"Having expressed my readiness to run for president of Russia, I appeal to (Putin) with a request to give his principal agreement to head the Russian government after the election of the new president of our country," Medvedev said in televised address a day after Putin endorsed his candidacy.

Putin's support for Medvedev virtually ensures that he would win the election.

On August 9, 1999, Vladimir Putin was appointed one of three First Deputy Prime Ministers, which enabled him later on that day, as the previous government led by Sergei Stepashin had been sacked, to be appointed acting Prime Minister of the Government of the Russian Federation by President Boris Yeltsin. On August 16, the State Duma approved his appointment as Prime Minister with 233 votes in favour.