<p>Russian president-elect Vladimir Putin said Tuesday he was standing down as head of the ruling United Russia party and nominated outgoing President Dmitry Medvedev as its new leader.<br /><br /></p>.<p>"The president should be a non-party figure," Putin told party officials Tuesday.<br />He, however, said the constitution did not forbid the head of state from holding party membership.<br /><br />"But the president is, after all, a consolidating figure for all the political forces in the country, for all its citizens. In connection with this, I believe it is correct to give up the leadership of United Russia after my May 7 inauguration," he said.<br /><br />Medvedev is widely expected to take up the post of prime minister after Putin's inauguration as president.</p>
<p>Russian president-elect Vladimir Putin said Tuesday he was standing down as head of the ruling United Russia party and nominated outgoing President Dmitry Medvedev as its new leader.<br /><br /></p>.<p>"The president should be a non-party figure," Putin told party officials Tuesday.<br />He, however, said the constitution did not forbid the head of state from holding party membership.<br /><br />"But the president is, after all, a consolidating figure for all the political forces in the country, for all its citizens. In connection with this, I believe it is correct to give up the leadership of United Russia after my May 7 inauguration," he said.<br /><br />Medvedev is widely expected to take up the post of prime minister after Putin's inauguration as president.</p>