United Russia faction backs nominees for senior government posts

United Russia’s parliamentary faction unanimously backed nominees for four deputy prime minister posts and the transport ministry, party General Council secretary Vladimir Yakushev said.

The LDPR, Communist Party and New People factions had already supported the nominations. A Just Russia plans to discuss them later on Tuesday and reach a positive decision, the faction told Interfax.

Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin presented the proposed reshuffle to President Vladimir Putin on October 19. Primorye Governor Oleg Kozhemyako was proposed as deputy prime minister and presidential envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District. Transport Minister Andrei Nikitin was nominated as a deputy prime minister.

First Deputy Finance Minister Irina Okladnikova was proposed as deputy prime minister and government chief of staff. Finance Minister Anton Siluanov was nominated as deputy prime minister while retaining the finance portfolio. Federal Air Transport Agency head Dmitry Yadrov was proposed as transport minister.

The State Duma will consider the nominees on October 21. Control Committee chairman Oleg Morozov said debate would start at noon. Each nominee may present a program and answer a question from each faction before being introduced by the relevant committee.

Representatives of all five factions will have up to 10 minutes for a combined report on the nominations. The State Duma will then vote.