MOSCOW. May 6 (Interfax) - The Communist Party's faction in the State Duma will vote against Vladimir Putin's candidacy for the post of prime minister, said Ivan Melnikov, first deputy speaker of the State Duma and first deputy chairman of the Communist Party's Central Committee.

"We have discussed the issue of voting on Vladimir Putin's candidacy for the post of prime minister many times, and our position is simple and clear: it's not about a specific person, the thing is that we do not agree with the policy pursued by the country, and we don't see any other options except voting 'nay'," said Melnikov.

Melnikov said there was no need for the faction to discuss the issue again. "If the candidate for the post of prime minister wished to meet with our faction to answer questions from deputies, then some new ground for a debate could emerge, but there will be no such meeting, and, therefore, there is nothing to discuss," he said.

Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov has told Interfax repeatedly that the Communist Party's faction will vote against Putin's candidacy for prime minister.

"We categorically disagree with the political and economic policy pursued by him as president, and we do not intend to take part in the formation of a new cabinet or vote for its new chairman. We will vote 'nay,'" said Zyuganov.