Russia's parliament will vote May 8 on whether to confirm President Vladimir Putin as prime minister, one day after he leaves the Kremlin, a top lawmaker said on Monday.

The State Duma, the lower house of parliament, would consider Putin's appointment as Russian Prime Minister on May 8, Speaker and United Russia leader Boris Gryzlov told a press conference in Moscow.

"We are waiting for May 7, the day of the inauguration of the president-elect, and May 8, the day when we will approve the top candidate of the United Russia in the recent parliament election, Vladimir Putin, as the prime minister," Interfax cited Gryzlov as saying.

Following the March 2 election, Putin is to leave office on May 7, when his successor and close ally, President-elect Dmitry Medvedev, will take office as the new Russian president. Putin has agreed to lead the cabinet in Medvedev's presidency.

(Xinhua News Agency April 8, 2008)