Vladimir Putin has been confirmed as prime minister by Russia’s parliament on Thursday. The lower house of parliament, the State Duma, voted 392 to 56 in favour of Mr Putin’s candidacy.

The confirmation occurred as Putin injected fresh uncertainty into the question of who might succeed him in the Kremlin next spring when his second presidential term ends. Putin said that there were now at least five viable presidential candidates, including Zubkov. He declined to share the others’ names. Mr. Medvedev nominated Mr Putin after being inaugurated as president yesterday.