Russia's Kommersant Newspaper Says Matviyenko May Leave Post Of Upper House Speaker Soon

Muhammad Irfan Published April 17, 2019 | 11:10 AM

Russia's Kommersant newspaper reported on Wednesday, citing sources in government agencies, that Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko might leave her post in the coming months

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 17th April, 2019) Russia's Kommersant newspaper reported on Wednesday, citing sources in government agencies, that Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko might leave her post in the coming months.

Matviyenko has been chairing the Russian parliament's upper house since 2011.

According to the newspaper's sources, Matviyenko will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in May to discuss her possible departure.

Matviyenko's possible resignation has been substantively discussed since December, sources told the publication. One of the sources said that the probability of her departure was extremely high.

The most likely candidate to replace Matviyenko is Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) Director Sergey Naryshkin, sources said.

According to the newspaper, Matviyenko may then head an agency, the status of which needs to be changed. A high-ranking Federal official told the newspaper that she might assume the post of head of the Pension Fund of Russia.

The press service of the Federation Council refused to comment on Matviyenko's prospects and the content of her meeting with the president, the newspaper said. Offices of First Deputy Prime Minister Anton Siluanov and Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova also refused to comment on the possible departure of Matviyenko.