Putin Says He Might Run for President Again in 2018
Source: NYT
Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin, who is likely to win a third presidential term on Sunday, said in an interview released on Friday that he may run for president for a fourth time in 2018, which would lengthen his term as Russia’s paramount leader to 24 years.
“It would be normal, if things are going well, and people want it,” Mr. Putin said in an interview with the editors of six foreign newspapers. “And if people don’t want it and things aren’t going well, and a person clings to his chair and doesn’t want to give it away, and if, on top of that, he violates the law — that would not be normal.
“But I don’t know whether I want to remain for more than 20 years,” he continued, according to an official transcript of the meeting. “I have not yet made this decision for myself.”
During the interview, Mr. Putin forcefully defended Russia’s position in the Syrian conflict, but distanced himself somewhat from the government of President Bashar al-Assad, refusing to answer the question of whether Mr. Assad can survive as a leader.
Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/03/world/europe/putin-could-seek-russian-presidency-in-2018.html
