Putin tells Cabinet to weigh time change reversal

[September 26, 2012]  MOSCOW (AP) -- Last year, when then-President Dmitry Medvedev permanently switched Russia to summer time, most residents didn't see sunrise until after 10 a.m. during the country's bleak winters.

The move angered many, and Vladimir Putin promised before reclaiming the presidency in March that he would take a second look on the issue. On Tuesday, he said that Medvedev, who is now prime minister, would consider reversing the change.

Putin's statement that the Cabinet must think again whether the change was feasible dealt a humiliating blow to Medvedev.

Putin had to shift into the prime minister's seat in 2008 due to a constitutional limit of two consecutive presidential terms. Since swapping jobs with Medvedev, Putin has toughened his line on dissent, reversing some of the liberal changes introduced by Medvedev.

[Associated Press]

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