Vladimir Putin to run again for Russian presidency

VLADIMIR Putin announced yesterday he will run for Russia’s presidency next year, almost certainly ensuring he will return to the Kremlin and raising the possibility that he could rule the country until 2024.

In nominating Putin yesterday, his United Russia party also approved his proposal that sitting president Dmitry Medvedev take over Putin’s current role as prime minister.Putin took over the premiership after serving as president from 2000 to 2008, bowing to constitutional limits. But he was always the more powerful figure, with Medvedev viewed as a caretaker president.

Putin started a carefully orchestrated series of manoeuvres at a party meeting in a Moscow stadium yesterday by proposing that Medvedev head the party list for the December elections. Medvedev then proposed that Putin be the party’s presidential candidate, and Putin returned to the stage to accept the proposal and express support for Medvedev as prime minister.

On his return to the stage, he found the microphone had been turned off temporarily, but said with a smile “I will speak louder. My commander’s voice has not yet been lost.”

During his presidency, Putin ruled Russia with a steely command, bringing about a system known as “managed democracy” that saw opposition politicians all but eliminated from the national arena.

His personal popularity aided his manoeuvring. Many Russians view Putin as the strong, decisive figure needed by a sprawling country troubled by corruption, an Islamist insurgency and massive economic inequality.

Putin’s nomination at a congress of the United Russia party ends months of intense speculation as to whether he would seek to return to the Kremlin or whether he would allow Medvedev to seek another term in next year’s election.

The presidential election, to be held on 4 March, is preceded by national parliamentary elections on 4 December, in which United Russia will seek to retain its dominance; the party has 312 of the 450 seats in the current parliament.

The period for formal submission of presidential candidates’ names has not yet begun, and it is unclear who might choose to challenge Putin for president.

Constitutional changes have extended the presidential term to six years from four beginning in 2012, meaning Putin could stay on as president through 2024.