When meeting members of Valdai International Discussion Club, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, right, said he doesn’t doubt his influence will survive the 2008 elections, but he isn’t going to adjust the power structure to himself.
Photo: Dmitry Azarov
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Putin to Retain Authority after 2008 Elections
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin doesn’t doubt his influence will survive the 2008 elections, but he isn’t going to adjust power structure to himself.
”I’ve made a firm decision, long ago, from the very beginning, that no one in power should adjust power structure to himself,” Putin said when meeting members of Valdai International Discussion Club. The shorthand record of that meeting is posted on the Kremlin Web.
Under Russia’s constitution, no president will hold office more than two terms in a row. At the same time, Putin admitted he hasn’t decided with what to concern himself after 2008.
”I’ll be here, of course. I haven’t finally decided for myself what to do. But whatever I do, I realize, there will be some influence. These are objective matters. I don’t intend to profiteer in such influence, hypertrophy its meaning, but it will exist. It will also depend on what I will be engaged in, whether it will be pure political work or anything else,” Putin said.
The president also assured he won’t go overseas for permanent residence.
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