quote:

Moscow, Jan 23 (PTI) Amidst speculation as to who will succeed him next year, Russian President Vladimir Putin says he will have to discuss the issue with the people of his country. "I am sure I will have to discuss this matter with the people of the Russian Federation," he said in an interview when asked whether there was a possibility that people could put pressure for a Constitutional amendment that could see him continue as President. Putin, whose second and last term as President ends next year, did not not name anyone when asked who he was grooming as his successor. "I have been certainly thinking of that from the very first day when I was elected President. I have said I like my job. And I am aware of the attitude of the people regarding this issue on the basis of reports. "I cannot demand from other people, who violate the provisions of the laws, if I myself break them including the main law of the land. It is the Constitution. And the Constitution provides for the possibility of being elected only twice," he said. He said in the past few years the country had been able to move away from a situation of "permanent crisis" in the country to situation of "permanent political and economic stability". And the main task of the head of the state is to ensure the upbeat trend of growth coupled with stability and improvement of quality of the life of the people. Putin said he was sure the people of his country were capable of discerning a do-gooder from those "talkative, chatterboxes, flamboyant and good-for-nothing" characters. "In any democratic country, the final say is with the people," he said. PTI

Putin says successor issue left to people

I guess people's believes that Putin is entertaining a 3rd term possibility aren't back with anything at all.

quote:

Successor Will Proceed With His Policy, Putin Hopes Russia’s President Vladimir hopes his successor will continue his policy. “Judging by the public opinion polls, this is the desire of the overwhelming majority of Russian residents,” Putin told Indian Doordarshan TV Channel and PTI news agency on the eve of his Indian tour. ”In the recent years, we have moved away from the permanent crisis situation in Russia and passed on to the situation of political and economic stability, to the steady economic growth and the growth in personal income,” Russia’s President Vladimir Putin said. In Russia, the prime concern of the next president in particular and the whole power system in general will be ensuring ongoing growth in personal income, level and quality of life of the nation, the president made clear. “I’m sure that all our citizens will be able to tell a decent and competent person from chatterers, glib talkers and idlers. Same as in any democratic state, the final choice is for the citizens of Russia,” the president concluded. Putin also confirmed he won’t run for the third term in the office. “I have said it already. I like my work. But I cannot require from others to obey the law if I breach laws myself, in the first instance, the basic and the main law of the country – the Constitution,” Putin emphasized.

Successor Will Proceed With His Policy, Putin Hopes