President Vladimir Putin kept Russia guessing on Wednesday over his choice for prime minister after dismissing the government in a move that seemed aimed at reviving national interest in his re-election bid next month.
Putin made an unusual trip to the White House government headquarters and, flanked by sacked Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov and his interim replacement, said he intended to name a premier from among his allies in parliament.
He said his changes, less than three weeks before a March 14 presidential contest which Putin is all but certain to win by a landslide, were part of a drive for more efficient government.
The mere fact of changing governments may also remind Russians of an election in which few can muster much interest.
Visibly more relaxed than when he startled the nation by announcing Kasyanov's removal on live television 24 hours earlier, Putin told ministers he had chosen change in the midst of the campaign for "political and administrative reasons".
Otherwise, he said, he would have had to wait until June for parliament to confirm a new government in office. Putin has two weeks to present a nominee to parliament and has pledged to form a new government in half that time.
"I am in a position to advise the public of the person I intend to present as prime minister. And I see this as my duty," he said in televised remarks from the riverside building that was a centre of resistance to the hard-line Communist putsch of 1991. But he said nothing about whom he would actually choose.
Russian media's list of possible successors to Kasyanov was led by Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin and Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov.
Also under consideration may be interim premier Viktor Khristenko and men from Putin's own Kremlin presidential administration, like deputy chief of staff Dmitry Kozak.
Russian financial markets paid little heed to political events. Stocks were up 1.5 percent in mid-afternoon trading on the RTS market and the rouble was all but unchanged.
Putin told ministers he would make good on a pledge to form a cabinet based on consultations with the majority in parliament - controlled by Putin's allies after the resounding victory in the December parliamentary elections by the United Russia party.
"This could require considerable efforts and introduce an element of uncertainty and take a bit more time," he said.
A United Russia source said Putin would meet party leaders later in the day. He is due this week to tour Russia's far east and central Siberia.
In dismissing Kasyanov, Putin pledged to set post-election priorities. Under the constitution, the president has extensive executive powers, leaving the prime minister to oversee the economy.
Some commentators interpreted Putin's action as motivated by Kremlin concern that the election - its outcome long a foregone conclusion - could be threatened by voter apathy. At least half the electorate must cast a ballot for the result to be valid.
"It is said that these are not elections but a clear farce, with no point in taking part and most of the public shows very little interest," wrote popular daily Moskovsky Komsomolets.
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