Putin sets sights on Prez's chair, Medvedev backs it

Moscow: Russian strongman Vladimir Putin hopes to become the country’s president for the third term in a tandem arrangement with his party colleague incumbent Dmitry Medvedev who will run for premiership in forthcoming polls. President Medvedev, who agreed to Prime Minister Putin’s proposal to lead the ruling United Russia to the December 4 Duma (lower house) polls, announced his decision to back his candidacy for the Russian presidency in March 2012. [caption id=“attachment_91753” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Putin, who after serving two consecutive four year terms stepped down in 2008 under the constitutional constraints. Reuters”]  [/caption] Speaking at the party congress in the former Lenin Olympic Stadium here, Medvedev announced plans to get down to “practical work in the government, formed by the parliamentary majority”. “I think it would be fair if the Congress approved Vladimir Putin’s candidacy for the Russian presidency,” he said amid standing ovation at the United Russia party congress televised live by the state-run Rossiya 24 channel. Putin, who after serving two consecutive four year terms stepped down in 2008 under the constitutional constraints, will now be able to retain power for another 12 years as Medvedev had amended the constitution by extending the presidential term to six years and lower house - the State Duma to five years. PTI