Vladimir Putin has signed the orders on Russia’s new cabinet, replacing three quarters of its members in what was promised to be a “powerful impulse from new people”, Russia Today informs.The signing came after several days of preparations that even kept the president from taking part in the G8 summit. Dmitry Medvedev, who went to Camp David instead, met with Putin after returning to Moscow.As the fresh appointments were announced it turned out that some government veterans retained their posts, first of all Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Finance Minister Igor Siluanov also remains at his post, as does Igor Shuvalov, first deputy prime minister in charge of economic policy. Justice Minister Aleksandr Konovalov also stays put.Longtime Putin’s allies Vladislav Surkov and Dmitriy Kozak also remain in the government as deputy prime ministers, with Surkov also appointed head of the government’s staff.Former presidential aide Arkadiy Dvorkovich, plenipotentiary to the Central Federal District Aleksaner Khloponin and former deputy Moscow mayor Olga Golodets also got appointments as deputy PMs.Rashid Nurgaliyev lost his position as interior minister, with the head of the Moscow city police, Vladimir Kolokoltsev, appointed in his place. Maksim Topilin became the minister of labor and social protection and Veronika Skvortsova became minister of health.
