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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Putin ready to be PM after polls | Putin ready to be PM after polls |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Russian President Vladimir Putin says he will become prime minister if his chosen successor, Dmitry Medvedev, wins the presidential election in March. | Russian President Vladimir Putin says he will become prime minister if his chosen successor, Dmitry Medvedev, wins the presidential election in March. |
| He was speaking at a conference in Moscow of the governing United Russia party, which has now confirmed Mr Medvedev as its candidate. | |
| Mr Medvedev is expected to win, largely thanks to Mr Putin's own popularity. | Mr Medvedev is expected to win, largely thanks to Mr Putin's own popularity. |
| Mr Putin is legally barred from serving a third consecutive term as president but could stand again in 2012. | Mr Putin is legally barred from serving a third consecutive term as president but could stand again in 2012. |
| "If the citizens of Russia trust Dmitry Medvedev and elect him the country's president I will be ready to chair the government," he told the United Russia conference. | "If the citizens of Russia trust Dmitry Medvedev and elect him the country's president I will be ready to chair the government," he told the United Russia conference. |
| 'Enormous resources' | |
| Mr Putin's announcement ended speculation he might seek another route to remain at the heart of Russian government. | |
| Putin pushes young allyProfile: Dmitry Medvedev | |
| When United Russia effectively turned this month's parliamentary election into a referendum on his presidency, the party's resulting landslide was portrayed as a message from Russian citizens that Mr Putin should retain some national leadership role. | |
| "I don't have the slightest doubt that [Mr] Putin... will keep using his enormous political and professional resources, his influence both in our society and in the world, for the benefit of Russia and its citizens," Mr Medvedev said. | |
| For his part, Mr Putin told the conference he was not afraid "of transferring... the destiny of Russia to the hands of [Dmitry Medvedev]". | |
| Reacting to news of the Putin-Medvedev tandem, the White House said it was an internal Russian affair if Mr Putin became prime minister after the next election. | |
| "We believe that we'll be able to have good relations with Russia moving forward," said spokeswoman Dana Perino. | |
| Economic gains | Economic gains |
| Mr Medvedev has already pledged to adhere as a leader to the policies outlined during the Putin presidency. | Mr Medvedev has already pledged to adhere as a leader to the policies outlined during the Putin presidency. |
| He said last Tuesday that he wanted the benefits of economic growth to reach all sections of Russian society. | He said last Tuesday that he wanted the benefits of economic growth to reach all sections of Russian society. |
| The 42-year-old former lawyer managed Mr Putin's election campaign in 2000 and is now chairman of state energy giant, Gazprom. | The 42-year-old former lawyer managed Mr Putin's election campaign in 2000 and is now chairman of state energy giant, Gazprom. |
| As first deputy prime minister, he has also overseen national programmes in the areas of health, housing and education. | As first deputy prime minister, he has also overseen national programmes in the areas of health, housing and education. |
| Russia has made huge economic gains as a result of soaring international oil prices. | Russia has made huge economic gains as a result of soaring international oil prices. |
| The government has been facing demands to channel energy revenues into pensions, benefits and parts of the country's infrastructure that have been decaying since the collapse of the Soviet Union. | The government has been facing demands to channel energy revenues into pensions, benefits and parts of the country's infrastructure that have been decaying since the collapse of the Soviet Union. |