( RIA Novosti ) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday the new prime minister, Viktor Zubkov, had submitted proposals on a new government structure.
Following the dismissal of the government last week, the president nominated Zubkov, a former financial watchdog chief, for the post of premier, simultaneously pushing for structural reform in the government.
"The chairman of the government has today submitted his proposals on a structure for the new government," Putin said. "This administrative issue will be resolved and the government will be formed shortly."
The president criticized last week the three-level system, established in 2004 and consisting of ministries, regulating agencies, and bodies engaged in state services, as ineffective.
The government was dismissed three months before forthcoming parliamentary elections and six months before presidential polls.