In an interview with Indian media posted on the Kremlin website today, Putin said the majority of Russians shared the same values, citing what he said was Russia's shift from "permanent crises" to stability.
Putin's second four-year term ends in 2008. He has previously said the constitution should not be altered to allow him to run for a third consecutive term.
(Interfax, AP)
Russia Beyond 2008
President Putin is mulling his political future (epa)
THE 2008 QUESTION: President Vladimir Putin's second term of office ends in the spring of 2008. Since the Russian Constitution bars him from seeking a third consecutive term, this event threatens to present a crisis in a country that has a history of managed power transitions. Already, Russian politics are dominated by the ominous 2008 question.
RFE/RL's Washington office hosted a briefing to discuss the prospects of Putin seeking a third term. The featured speakers were RFE/RL Communications Director Don Jensen and political scientist Peter Reddaway of George Washington University.
LISTEN
Listen to Don Jensen's presentation (about 16 minutes):Real Audio Windows Media
LISTEN
Listen to Peter Reddaway's presentation (about 35 minutes):Real Audio Windows Media
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