The prospect of Vladamir Putin leading Russia until 2024 become more realistic after Russia's ruling duo ended months of speculation on Saturday with President Dmitry Medvedev proposing his predecessor make a run fort the top job next year.
Medvedev told a congress of the ruling United Russia party that he would back Putin in his return to the Kremlin. That means Putin could lead Russia until at least 2024.
Speaking to thousands of flag-waving delegates in Moscow's Soviet-era Luzhniki stadium, Medvedev first accepted Putin's suggestion that he head the party's federal party list in December's parliamentary vote.
The crowd erupted into a gasp of surprise and then applause when he said: "I think it's right that the party congress support the candidacy of head of the government, Vladimir Putin, in the role of the country's president." » | Miriam Elder in Moscow | Saturday, September 24, 2011
ANDREW OSBORN: Vladimir Putin versus Dmitry Medvedev » | Friday, September 23, 2011
