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United Russia Doesn't Want Kudrin

United Russia does not want Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin as a member because of fundamental disagreements over economic policy, State Duma Speaker Boris Gryzlov said Tuesday.

Gryzlov, who chairs United Russia's executive committee, reacted to Kudrin's comments Monday that he was unhappy with United Russia's left-leaning policies and its abuse of its status as the ruling party.

"[Kudrin] says he will not join United Russia — well, nobody has invited him to join our party," Gryzlov said, Interfax reported.

He added that the question was a moot point because of "principal differences" with Kudrin over economic policy. "Every time he comes to the Duma, he comes under fire and faces unflattering questions," Gryzlov said.

The rare quarrel between Kudrin, a close ally of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, and United Russia, which Putin heads, comes on the heels of another highly unusual conflict between United Russia and A Just Russia, the country's second pro-Kremlin party.

That quarrel was settled Monday when Gryzlov and A Just Russia's leader, Federation Council speaker Sergei Mironov, promised to cooperate on key issues such as foreign policy. The two agreed that A Just Russia would continue to maintain its own position on economic policy.

Both conflicts originated in Vladimir Pozner's talk show on state-controlled Channel One, leading to speculation that they were orchestrated by the Kremlin.

Pozner on Tuesday denied the implication, saying his programs have never been subjected to orders. "And I can promise that they never will be," he told RIA-Novosti.

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