Putin backs Murmansk Region governor's plans to run in early gubernatorial elections
MOSCOW. May 5 (Interfax) - President Vladimir Putin has supported Murmansk Region Governor Marina Kovtun's plans to call early gubernatorial elections.
Putin wished Kovtun success and asked her to continue performing her gubernatorial duties pending the elections.
"Fine, go ahead, I am not against this. You have done a great deal for the region, therefore I would ask you to continue performing your duties until the elections. I wish you success," Putin told Kovtun on Monday.
Kovtun said she wanted "to secure the support of voters in the region and make sure that they support what we have been doing." "They must speak their minds," she said.
Kovtun asked Putin to relieve her of her duties ahead of time and allow her to call gubernatorial elections earlier, in September.
She said one of the reasons for her plans was that almost three quarters of the voters in the Murmansk region will cast their ballots in September 2014, given that elections will be held in 20 municipal entities, including Murmansk, the region's capital city.
"By combining these elections we will manage to consolidate our efforts, to hold a combined election campaign effectively and save budget resources," Kovtun said.
