21 Oct 2010 15:48

Volodin appointed vice-premier, head of government office

GORKI. Oct 21 (Interfax) - President Dmitry Medvedev has appointed Vyacheslav Volodin as the new head of the government office and a deputy prime minister.

"The government has nominated you for a Deputy Prime Minister and the Head of the Government Office. I have known you for a rather long time. I know your skills, and I am inclined to support the government proposal," Medvedev told Volodin.

He signed the ordinance at the meeting.

Prior to the appointment, Volodin had been a State Duma Vice-Speaker and the Secretary of the Presidium of the United Russia General Council.

He succeeds Sergei Sobyanin, who on Thursday became the new Moscow mayor.