Putin, Medvedev tout successes before Russian vote

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin praised Dmitry Medvedev, his chosen candidate in Sunday's presidential election, on Thursday for radically improving healthcare, education, agriculture and housing.

Medvedev was charged by Putin with overseeing four major projects in 2005 as part of the president's plan to use Russia's oil wealth to improve the lives of ordinary citizens.

"The overwhelming majority of the aims we set out have been fulfilled," Putin told a meeting of top officials in the Kremlin that was shown live on Russian state television.

"More than that, they have given serious impulses ... to various sectors of the economy," the Kremlin chief said. The national projects have helped "return trust in the authorities. People have seen that we are at least trying to do something".

Putin's backing for Medvedev is almost certain to ensure the former corporate lawyer wins the vote, but the Kremlin is keen to ensure a strong turnout.

The ambitious spending plans, which are called "national projects", have been lauded by state television for helping slow Russia's population decline, reforming dreary hospitals and improving derelict Soviet housing.

But the opposition has criticised the projects for spurring corruption and for failing to address the underlying problems which haunt Russia's ailing Soviet-built infrastructure.

"I will not hide the fact that when this work started, I often heard sceptical views, that these projects are populism ... pre-election PR for the authorities," Medvedev said.

"People have seen changes, maybe not so significant but nevertheless real, and they have felt that life has started to change for the better."

Putin, who has said he will preserve influence after he steps down, said officials should think about how to continue the national projects. "I am sure that with our joint work we can meet all these expectations," said Medvedev.