Putin will seek premiership after leaving presidency

RUSSIA, Vladimir Putin has assured his political party that Russia's age of Putin is far from over, pledging to accept an offer of the prime minister's post when he leaves the presidency next year. In making the announcement Monday, the Russian president, whose power still seems ascendant, finally settled on one of his many post-presidential political options, which had ranged from altering the constitution so he could run again to outright retirement.

Putin has pledged to accept a job that is, at least on paper, a demotion - perhaps confident of the power conferred by his enormous popularity, and by the loyalty of the fellow KGB veterans he placed in many of the Kremlin's most important jobs.

Putin presented his decision in a speech to leaders of the United Russia party, shortly before they voted to nominate the president's longtime protege, First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, as their candidate in the March 2 presidential contest.

With the support of Putin and the Kremlin's tight control over the nation's media and political landscape, Medvedev appears certain to win. After Putin endorsed Medvedev's presidential bid last week, the 42-year-old St. Petersburg-educated lawyer urged Putin to serve as his prime minister if he is elected. Putin waited for a week before responding.

Many here believe Putin would remain the real leader of Russia, whatever his title. But the incumbent pledged not to undermine his successor by strengthening the premiership and weakening Russia's strong presidential system.

"If the citizens of Russia show trust in Dmitry Medvedev and elect him the new president, I would be ready to continue our joint work as prime minister, without changing the distribution of authority," Putin said. Later, the party voted overwhelmingly to nominate Medvedev.

Putin looked on sternly from the podium as Medvedev accepted the nomination, and the younger man promised to follow the blueprint that Putin has drafted for Russia. The best way to do that, he said, was with Putin serving as head of his Cabinet.

"The full implementation of this strategy is possible only together with its author, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin," Medvedev said.

While Putin cautiously vowed not to usurp power, Medvedev stressed that Putin will continue to wield "enormous" influence over Russia's affairs. "I don't have the slightest doubt that Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, in the future, will keep using his enormous political and professional resources, his influence both in our society and in the world, for the benefit of Russia and its citizens," he said.

Moscow, Tuesday, AP