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: 99久久久国产精品免费牛牛四川 | 免费福利在线播放| 香蕉视频污在线观看| 国产精品日本一区二区在线播放 | 午夜三级限制福利电影在线看| 青青青亚洲精品国产| 男人j进美女p动态图片| 夜来香电影完整版免费观看| 中文字幕日产无码| 日韩免费高清视频| 四虎永久免费地址ww1515| 亚洲色精品vr一区二区三区| 网曝门精品国产事件在线观看| 国产伦子沙发午休| 在线私拍国产福利精品| 无码专区国产精品视频| 久久精品一区二区东京热| 最近中文字幕免费mv视频8| 免费大片av手机看片| 美女扒开尿口让男人桶进| 国产内射大片99| 10天的爱人下载| 国产精品毛片大码女人| 99久久无码一区人妻| 大学寝室沈樵无删减| 亚洲va在线va天堂va不卡下载| 香蕉在线精品视频在线观看6| 在线观看中文字幕码| m.jizz4.com| 性欧美video视频另类| 久99久精品免费视频热77| 日本电影中文字幕| 久久精品亚洲综合一品| 最近在线中文字幕电影资源| 亚洲人成伊人成综合网久久久| 欧美激情xxx| 亚洲欧美成人一区二区在线电影 | www.五月婷| 好男人观看免费视频播放全集| 中文字幕在线观看| 无码国产精品一区二区免费模式|