UPDATE2: Russia’s PM candidate may speak at Duma on Mon – source

(Adds details, comments in paragraphs 5, 9)

MOSCOW, May 7 (PRIME) -- A candidate for the post of Russia’s prime minister may speak at the State Duma, the Russian parliament’s lower house, at 3:00 p.m. Moscow time on Monday, a source at the State Duma told PRIME.

“Today at 3:00 p.m.,” he said.

A government source said earlier that ministers expect that a candidacy for the post of Russia’s prime minister will be submitted to the State Duma already late on Monday.

“Already today in the evening in order to vote tomorrow,” the source said.

President Vladimir Putin entered the presidential post for six more years on Monday. The government resigned after the inauguration.

Current members of the government expect that a new government will be formed during several weeks, the source said.

The issue of the new government was not discussed at Putin’s meeting with current members on May 6, the source said.

New May decrees of Putin may be released with the formation of the new government, he added.

Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov told reporters he would be interested in working at the new government. “Everything depends on what decisions about me will be made by the country’s leadership. My opinion: if they invite me, then of course it would be interesting,” he said.

Alexei Kudrin, chairman of the board of the Center for Strategic Research and finance minister in 2000–2011, declined to comment on rumors about his forthcoming appointment to a high post.

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