ST. PETERSBURG, August 30 (Itar-Tass) —— The St. Petersburg Legislative Assembly will vote on the candidature of Presidential Representative to the Central Federal District Georgy Poltavchenko for St. Petersburg Governor on August 31, Chairman of the Assembly’s Legislation Committee Vitaly Milonov told Itar-Tass.
He said Assembly Chairman Vadim Tyulpanov would put the issue on vote.
The meeting will start at noon, and before that the candidate will meet with representatives of all groups of the city parliament. “The meetings of Georgy Poltavchenko with deputies of the four factions of the city parliament are scheduled for Wednesday morning,” Milonov said.
Valentina Matviyenko, who had been the city governor for eight years, resigned following her victory in the municipal election. The seat in the municipal council enables her to become a member of the Federation Council. Presumably, she will be the next Federation Council speaker.
Consultations on the new head of the St. Petersburg executive authorities lasted for about a week.
Tyulpanov said he hoped that the St. Petersburg Legislative Assembly would support Poltavchenko for St. Petersburg Governor. The candidate will gain support of the constitutional majority, 34 votes or slightly more, he said.
“I am glad that the president has made this choice. I think that Georgy Sergeyevich [Poltavchenko] is very well prepared for taking the position of the St. Petersburg governor],” he said.
The St. Petersburg Legislative Assembly will also discuss the simultaneous election of the city parliament and the State Duma in December 2011. Earlier the city parliament cut its term of office by 3.5 months.
United Russia suggested three candidates – Presidential Representative to the Central Federal District, Acting St. Petersburg Governor Georgy Poltavchenko; Vice-Governor – Head of the Governor’s Staff Mikhail Oseyevsky and Chairman of the St. Petersburg Legislative Assembly Vadim Tyulpanov – for governor at the Monday meeting with President Dmitry Medvedev.
Medvedev chose Poltavchenko. He made the statement at the Tuesday meeting with Poltavchenko at the Bocharov Ruchei residence.
“I have decided to nominate you for St. Petersburg Governor,” the president said. “You know St. Petersburg well. You have been the Presidential Representative to the Central Federal District for ten years. Hopefully, you will successfully fulfill your duties, because one must fulfill the duties of the head of the second largest city with merit.”
“The city became beautiful, the infrastructure improved and many things changed when Valentina Matviyenko was in office. This does not mean though that St. Petersburg is free from problems, including those in public utilities. It is necessary to develop the transport infrastructure and to solve ‘winter’ problems. I hope you will form a team for tackling these issues,” Medvedev told Poltavchenko.
“I will use my entire experience and knowledge to justify your confidence,” Poltavchenko told the president.
“I realize that [St. Petersburg] has plenty of problems although a lot has been done in the recent years. The team lead by Valentina Matviyenko has done much for the city. I have seen results of their work in the past week,” Poltavchenko said.
He said he would start with solving the problem of dilapidated homes and preparing for the winter season.
“We have realistic plans. I think these plans must be fulfilled without abandoning the earlier positive experience. The most important is that we enjoy support and confidence of St. Petersburg residents. I am confident we will succeed,” he said.