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Putin eyes prime minister's job Putin eyes prime minister's job
(21 minutes later)
Russian President Vladimir Putin has raised the possibility of becoming a future prime minister by agreeing to enter the December parliamentary polls.Russian President Vladimir Putin has raised the possibility of becoming a future prime minister by agreeing to enter the December parliamentary polls.
Mr Putin, who must leave office as president next year, said suggestions he might seek to become Russian prime minister were "entirely realistic".Mr Putin, who must leave office as president next year, said suggestions he might seek to become Russian prime minister were "entirely realistic".
He told a congress of United Russia that he would head the party's list though not actually become a member.He told a congress of United Russia that he would head the party's list though not actually become a member.
By being on the list he is guaranteed a seat in the next parliament.By being on the list he is guaranteed a seat in the next parliament.
Mr Putin is barred from running for a third consecutive term as president by the constitution but could return at a later date. The BBC's Mike Sanders says Mr Putin's announcement comes as a shock, but is the clearest indication yet that he is determined to stay at the centre of power in Russia.
Correspondents say this is the clearest indication yet that Mr Putin is determined to stay at the centre of power in Russia. According to the Russian constitution, he is not allowed to run for a third consecutive term as president in March.
His announcement came as a surprise to political observers in Moscow, following speculation about what he would do after his last presidential term ends. 'Radical change'
Pro-Kremlin political analyst Gleb Pavlovsky described the announcement as a radical change. "As far as heading the government is concerned - this is a quite realistic suggestion but it is still too early to think about it," Mr Putin said.
"Two conditions must be met first - United Russia must win the election and a decent, capable and modern person with whom I work as a team should be elected as president," he added.
His announcement follows years of speculation about what he might do after his last presidential term ends.
Pro-Kremlin political analyst Gleb Pavlovsky described it as a radical change.
"We can forget our favourite cliche that the president is tsar in Russia," Mr Pavlovsky told AFP news agency."We can forget our favourite cliche that the president is tsar in Russia," Mr Pavlovsky told AFP news agency.
"It's the most politically logical solution to the problem of what Putin does when he leaves office," the said. "It's the most politically logical solution to the problem of what Putin does when he leaves office," he said.