Russian finance minister ousted after Putin plan rebellion

Sep 27, 2011 |

Moscow

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Russian Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin was ousted on Monday after rebelling against a plan to install President Dmitry Medvedev as prime minister when Vladimir Putin returns to the Kremlin in 2012.

Kudrin fell on his sword following an unprecedented televised clash with Medvedev where the president angrily accused him of making 'unseemly' comments and said his only option was to resign.

The respected minister is the first top official to be forced out in connection with the scheme announced at the weekend for Putin, currently prime minister, and Medvedev to swap jobs after March 2012 presidential elections.

The resignation brought a dramatic end to Kudrin's career as finance minister, which started in 2000 and saw him become the longest serving finance minister of any world power.

"The president of the Russian Federation signed the decree on the resignation of Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin," the Kremlin said in a statement on its website.

In an extraordinary public dressing-down of the kind not seen in Russia for years, Medvedev told Kudrin that his comments were unacceptable and he had until the end of the day to decide whether to resign.

"Alexei Leonidovich - if you do not agree with the policy of the president, which is executed by the government, then you have one option and you know what it is - to resign," Medvedev told Kudrin in comments broadcast on the main evening news.

Appearing to tackle head-on the idea that he was a lame duck after the weekend's drama, Medvedev added: "No one cancelled discipline and subordination in the government ... Any irresponsible chatterbox will have to cross me."

Barely flinching, Kudrin told Medvedev that "I do indeed have differences with you."

The minister had at the weekend told reporters in the United States he could not imagine serving in a government led by Medvedev, with whom he had "differences" over the management of the economy.

He accused the president of seeking to ramp up spending -- in particular on the military -- to the detriment of Russia's budgetary position.

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