Home>News Center>World
         
 

Putin rules out 2008 run, may run in 2012
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-04-13 09:26

Russian President Vladimir Putin again ruled out running for re-election in 2008 but left the door open to seeking a third term four years later, fueling fresh speculation that the Russian leader could try to hang on to power.

Putin told a group of media executives in Hanover, Germany, on Monday that he would not seek to change the constitution to lift the ban on a third consecutive term, according to remarks released Tuesday by the Kremlin.

"I will not change the constitution and in line with the constitution, you cannot run for president three times in a row," he said.

Putin pointed out that he would not be barred from seeking a third term later. "True, I am not certain that I want to," he added.

Political analysts said they suspect Putin's allies are seeking ways to keep control of the country after his term ends in 2008.

One option floated in political circles was to change the constitution to make the presidency ceremonial, turning Russia into a parliamentary republic in which Putin, as prime minister, would continue to hold power.

But Olga Kryshtanovskaya, a political observer who specializes in the Russian elite, speculated that the Kremlin might try to leave Putin at the helm as prime minister without amending the constitution.

"The clan in power under Putin has to complete the redistribution of assets and safeguard their gains," Kryshtanovskaya said. She said a new class of wealthy functionaries has arisen in the past few years as the state role in the economy has grown, with the dismemberment and partial renationalization of the Yukos oil giant profiting Kremlin insiders.

Irina Khakamada, a liberal politician who ran against Putin in 2004, said Russia's political elite is growing increasingly concerned as 2008 looms closer and the fragmented opposition steps up its efforts to mount a credible challenge.

"The people in the Kremlin are looking at several options to allow them to hang onto power and assets they have acquired through various means," Khakamada said in a statement posted on her Web site.

Putin might try to secure the presidency for a trusted aide and keep his political capital by becoming prime minister for four years, she said. "This way he could maintain his popularity ratings and after a break would return to power."

Andrei Piontkovsky, a political analyst and Kremlin critic, said Putin's main concern was to ensure his successor was a pliable figure who would not harm his interests. "He is ready to leave his post but he wants guarantees of immunity," Piontkovsky said.

Putin, 52, a former colonel in the KGB who later headed its main post-Soviet successor agency, came to power when Russia's first president, Boris Yeltsin, stepped down on Dec. 31, 1999. He was elected to his first term in March 2000.

Re-elected by a landslide last year, his popularity appears to have started to wane after mass protests over welfare cuts. Critics point to a slowdown in economic growth despite record oil prices as evidence of the damage to business confidence and foreign investor sentiment under Putin.



 
  Today's Top News     Top World News
 

Japan told to face up to history, reflect on protests

 

   
 

HK law staff consult on tenure of new CE

 

   
 

Nations to make big difference to world

 

   
 

Tourist attractions freeze prices, for now

 

   
 

Government warns over painkiller drugs

 

   
 

Argument hits new pitch at opera house

 

   
  Iraqis increase calls for U.S. to leave
   
  Nuke watchdog: North Korea is top problem
   
  Bangladesh factory collapse toll hits 30
   
  20 die in India from contaminated liquor
   
  Donor nations pledge $4.5b to help Sudan
   
  Dutch mark anniversary of camp liberation
   
 
  Go to Another Section  
 
 
  Story Tools  
   
  Related Stories  
   
Russia's Putin to visit Palestinian territories
   
Putin to visit Israel - a first for Russia
   
Gorbachev warns Putin of possible unrest
  News Talk  
  Are the Republicans exploiting the memory of 9/11?  
Advertisement
         
主站蜘蛛池模板: 久久久久久亚洲精品| 伊人青青草视频| 狠狠色综合久久婷婷| 国产麻豆剧传媒精品国产免费| 奶交性视频欧美| 久久精品国产96精品亚洲| 欧美妇性猛交视频| 亚洲综合图片小说区热久久| 精品国产日韩亚洲一区二区| 国产亚洲欧美精品久久久| 国产三级a三级三级野外| 国产美女免费观看| 国产乱子伦精品视频| 午夜剧场一级片| 亚洲深深色噜噜狠狠爱网站| 亚洲免费一级视频| 中文字幕成人免费视频| 黑白禁区高清免费观看全集电视剧| 欧美性猛交xxxx乱大交丰满| 天天操天天摸天天射| 国产另类ts人妖一区二区| 免费无码看av的网站| 亚洲欧美日韩久久精品第一区| 亚洲av人无码综合在线观看| www.人人干| 精品无人乱码一区二区三区| 极品丝袜乱系列在线阅读| 情欲小说app下载| 在线观看欧美国产| 国产欧美一区二区精品久久久| 国产乱人伦偷精品视频下| 免费少妇a级毛片人成网| 亚洲爆乳无码专区www| 二个人看的www免费视频| 久久99爱re热视| xxxxx做受大片视频免费| 2022麻豆福利午夜久久| 草久视频在线观看| 男生和女生一起差差差很痛的视频| 欧美性生交xxxxx丝袜| 日本一区二区三|