Boris Nemtsov, named on Tuesday as a deputy Prime Minister in Russias new cabinet, is a tough, telegenic reformer widely tipped as a future candidate for the Presidency.
Seemingly number two in the government of Sergei Kiriyenko, his longtime protege, Nemtsov looks set to consolidate his power base, though his formal rank is lower than in the previous cabinet where he was a first deputy Prime Minister.
The area of my duties will naturally increase, Nemtsov told Itar-Tass news agency after his appointment, noting that the overall number of ministers had been reduced and that there were no longer any first deputy Prime Ministers.
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It was not immediately clear what Nemtsovs responsibilities would be in the new team but his presence was sure to please foreign investors who see him as a guarantee of market reforms.
A Kremlin statement named him the first in a list of appointments. Second was deputy finance minister Viktor Khristenko, who joins Nemtsov as a deputy premier.
Nemtsov was quoted as saying there would be a third but gave no names. With his mop of dark curly hair, easy-going manner and mischievous sense of humour.
Nemtsov has long been known as the boy wonder of Russian politics, though at 38 he is beginning to look rather old in a team led by the 35-year-old Kiriyenko.
President Boris Yeltsin, who himself once mentioned Nemtsov as a future president, sacked the old cabinet of veteran premier Viktor Chernomyrdin and replaced him with the little-known Kiriyenko on March 23 for being too sluggish over reforms.
Yeltsin has since given lukewarm endorsement to Chernomyrdins bid to succeed him in the year 2000.