INSTANT VIEW: Russia names new cabinet, key figures stay

(Reuters) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin announced his cabinet line-up on Monday, re-appointing the previous finance, economy, foreign and defense ministers.

ALEXEI MAKARKIN, CENTRE FOR POLITICAL TECHNOLOGIES

"As a whole, this is a transfer of players from the presidential administration (Sobyanin, Sechin), with whom the (former) president has worked well and harmoniously. He wants to surround himself with well-known figures, whom he fully trusts. This is a group of his closest trustees."

NATALIA ORLOVA, ALFA BANK

"I've been focusing on (finance minister Alexei) Kudrin's positions. Today, I don't feel that the economic block has been seriously modified. In principle, as long as changes to Kudrin's positions and FinMin remain limited, we can count on balanced economic policies and this should be perceived positively by the market".

SERGEI SUVEROV, VICE-PRESIDENT, DEUTSCHE BANK

"The news is neutral for the market. The government seems to be well balanced."

"Shuvalov, as an advocate of liberal economic policies, will most likely coordinate the work of the economic block. This is positive as well as the fact that all economic ministers have kept their positions."

"It is quite surprising that (former telecoms minister Leonid) Reiman did not make it to the new government list, which will create uncertainty around privatization of (state telecoms firm) Svyazinvest."

OLEG VIYUGIN, CHAIRMAN OF MDM BANK

"I think the new government will work slightly better because the previous one had to work during a pre-election period. Now the cabinet will be able to embark on a few brave steps most of all in fighting against inflation and take decisions related to the land and tax codes".

EVGENY GONTMAKHER, CHIEF ANALYST, CENTRE FOR SOCIAL RESEARCH

AND INNOVATIONS

"The liberal part has strengthened because (Igor) Shuvalov as first deputy prime-minister means strengthening. He is a man of modern and progressive views.

The fact that (Elvira) Nabiullina has stayed (as Economy Minister) is also a plus, as well as the fact that Kudrin and (Viktor) Khristenko also stayed.

It is evident that influence of those who were against reforms has declined sharply."