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Moscow region to have separate posts of governor and premier

The Moscow Regional Duma approved the amendments to the Charter of the region in the first reading

MOSCOW, April 19 (Itar-Tass) — The Moscow regional authorities instituted separate posts of the governor and the prime minister. The Moscow Regional Duma approved the amendments to the Charter of the region in the first reading.

According to the amendments the Moscow Region instituted new posts: vice-governor – the prime minister in the region and the head of the gubernatorial staff. Meanwhile, the posts of governor, vice-governor and first deputy prime ministers were excluded from the makeup of the government. A new body of gubernatorial staff was also formed.

The regional prime minister will be in charge of urgent tasks. He will also approve a new makeup of the government. The governor will be in charge of macroeconomic issues, including the regional participation in the implementation of major federal programs and projects and the attraction of investments in the region. Meanwhile, the governor will form his staff and nominate a candidacy of the prime minister in the Moscow Regional Duma. The deputies will agree on the candidacies to the posts of vice-governors and deputy prime ministers.

The similar division of powers between the head of the region and the prime minister exists in several Russian regions, particularly the Astrakhan, Sverdlovsk, Perm and Penza Regions.

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