MOSCOW, April 26 (RIA Novosti) - Functions of the Russian government's executive branch may be modified after Vladimir Putin has been inaugurated for his second presidential term, Cabinet Chief-of-Staff Dmitri Kozak told a news briefing in the federal government headquarters Monday. The inauguration ceremony is scheduled for May 7.
After he is sworn in as President, Putin will name his Prime Minister. In all likelihood, the incumbent PM, Mikhail Fradkov, will retain the post, Kozak said. The Prime Minister will then have to table proposals on the structure of federal executive bodies within a fortnight's time, he said, adding that he did not expect any radical changes to be introduced.
In reply to reporters' question, Kozak said he deemed it unnecessary to take all controlling bodies out of ministries' jurisdiction. In his opinion, a federal minister should bear responsibility for the operation of the public sector, but if a minister is responsible for the market sector, control should be left in the hands of an appropriate ministry.
