MOSCOW, November 15 (RIA Novosti) - Russian Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin considers it premature to talk about Dmitry Medvedev, who was promoted to first deputy prime minister Monday, as Putin's possible successor.

"It is too early to talk about this," Kudrin said Tuesday, responding to a reporter's question.

He said the latest appointments in the Russian government would make the decision-making process more effective.

The appointment "will substantially strengthen the government and its authority in the country, parliament and society."

Medvedev's appointment came simultaneously with that of Sergei Ivanov, who was promoted to deputy prime minister, retaining his position as defense minister.

Some politicians saw the new appointments as part of what is being called Operation Successor.

Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov said the move "was the first step toward a succession plan" for the Russian presidency.

Rodina (Motherland) co-chairman Dmitry Rogozin described the latest Cabinet reshuffle as the beginning of the 2008 election campaign.

Commenting on the appointment of Medvedev and Ivanov, LDPR leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky said: "These two may have been sent to the Cabinet for an internship. One of them is a possible candidate for the next head of state, while the other could be tapped as the next head of government."

Zhirinovsky, however, did not rule out that "there could be a third candidate."