(17 May 2000) Russian/Nat XFA Russia's lower house of parliament on Wednesday confirmed Mikhail Kasyanov as the country's new prime minister. In the 450-seat Duma, three hundred and twenty five deputies voted for him, with 55 against. The 43-year-old has until now been president Vladimir Putin's finance minister and first deputy prime minister. Seen as a market reformer, Kasyanov used his speech before Duma deputies on Wednesday morning to lay out the state of the economy this year. Deputies in Russia's lower houses of parliament voted on Wednesday for a new Prime Minister. Mikhail Kasyanov, until now President Vladimir Putin's finance minister and first deputy prime minister, is a popular choice for many in the centrist-dominated chamber. SOUNDBITE: (Russian) \"Kasyanov is a enough of a compromise figure in the view of all the parties in the Duma. He is a person who knows and is able to work in the finance ministry, who has worked pretty well for the past six months. I know him from when he was a minister working in my cabinet. He's a person who clearly, thank God, who does not have any political sympathies or dislikes.\" SUPER CAPTION: Sergei Stepashin, Former Prime Minister Under Russian law, the president appoints the prime minister, who must then be approved by the 450-seat Duma by simple majority. Three hundred and twenty five deputies voted in favour, with 55 against. Before the vote, Nationalist leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky, predicted it would be a record victory. SOUNDBITE: (Russian) \"The result will be historic. He could get more than 300 votes, maybe 370 to 400. He'll be confirmed as prime minister. It will be a record for our books. \" SUPER CAPTION: Vladimir Zhirinovsky, Nationalist leader Kasyanov used his speech before Duma deputies on Wednesday morning to lay out the state of the economy this year. As prime minister, supervising the economy is a key part of his job. Kasyanov said production in Russia had already grown by ten per cent, investment had been steadily increasing and wage debts to state employees had decreased. He said Russia's monthly inflation is under one per cent, gold and currency reserves were at the highest levels for years, and he added that the rouble's exchange rate had stabilised. But he said all parties would have to work together to make Russia a \"frontline modern power\". SOUNDBITE (Russian) \"The consultations I held with the parties in the Duma have clearly demonstrated we can rely on the support and the intellectual potential of the deputies. Of course it won't be arguments and compromise, but I hope in the fundamental questions in the development of the Russian Federation as a frontline modern power, occupying a dignified position in the international community, we will have full mutual understanding.\" SUPER CAPTION: Mikhail Kasyanov, Russian premier designate While deputies vote for a Prime Minister, lawmakers don't have any say on other Cabinet appointments. Putin is expected to name the rest of the government in the coming days. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives ​​ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/0242776130985682a200ccd26b728baa

• published: 21 Jul 2015
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