Outgoing Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday accepted the leadership of the ruling United Russia and declared that he will take over as Prime Minister.
"In view of my plans to take over prime ministership after relinquishing the presidential job next month, the combination of party chairmanship with the prime ministerial post will be in accordance with the democratic procedures," Putin, 55, said at the ninth congress of the party.
A former KGB officer, Putin will leave Kremlin in three weeks after an eight-year reign.
The United Russia party has an absolute majority in Russia's lower house, the State Duma.