Putin to nominate Russian PM on May 7

MOSCOW - Russian President-elect Vladimir Putin would announce his choice of prime minister on May 7, the day of his inauguration, parliament speaker Sergei Naryshkin said Monday.

Russia's Prime Minister and President-elect Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with members of the Russian Antarctic Expedition in Moscow April 20, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]

"Immediately after the inauguration, the president should present the candidacy for prime minister on May 7," Naryshkin said, adding that the State Duma, or the lower house of parliament, would meet the next day to discuss the nomination.

Under Russia's constitution, the candidacy of prime minister, proposed by the president, has to be approved by the State Duma.

Also on Monday, presidential spokeswoman Natalya Timakova said that outgoing President Dmitry Medvedev would meet in early May with leaders of parliamentary groups for the last time to discuss the results of his term.

The State Duma's deputy speaker, Ivan Melnikov, said the meeting is probably to be held on May 2.

Putin, incumbent prime minister who won a resounding victory in the March 4 presidential election, has promised before the election to nominate Medvedev as prime minister if elected.