Vladimir Putin: I don’t want to rule Russia for life
Source: The Guardian
Monday 24 November 2014 07.38 EST
Vladimir Putin does not want to rule Russia for life, but may well run for another six-year term in 2018, he has said.
In an interview with a Russian state news agency, Putin, who has ruled as either president or prime minister since 2000, said he would base any decision to run again on the mood of the country and his personal feelings.
Staying in office beyond 2024 would be detrimental for the country, he told Tass. It was too early to erect monuments to himself, he said, but local officials who wanted to name streets after him “did so out of good intentions”.
The interview touched on familiar topics including the deterioration of Russia’s relations with the west. Putin said the west wanted to punish Russia for being strong and assertive, and not over the unrest in Ukraine.
“Take a look at our millennium-long history. As soon as we rise, other nations immediately feel the urge to push Russia aside, to put it ‘where it belongs’, to slow it down,” he said.
Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/nov/24/vladimir-putin-russia-president-life
Monday 24 November 2014 07.38 EST, about 5 hours ago
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