Putin to step down after Presidential elections

Moscow, Apr 17: First Deputy Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov today said Russian President Vladimir Putin will step down after Presidential elections, early next year.

''Mr Putin will definitely quit in about a year and a new President will step in after democratic elections,'' Mr Peskov said in an interview with the Russia Today television channel.

''Stability largely means inviolability of the Russian Constitution,'' he said, citing main argument-the need to keep the country stable-by the advocates of Mr Putin's third term in office.

''This is the President's main idea,'' he said, pointing out that the President argued he could not allow any changes in the Constitutions aimed solely at extending his office by one more term.

The country needs stability and transition of authority from the incumbent to the next President will hopefully ensure further stability, Mr Peskov added.

He said there will not be any Presidential successor, adding that the question was not who will succeed, but how the 'basic course' should be continued.

However, noting Mr Putin's statement about his right to comment on the candidacies to the Presidential post, Mr Peskov said, ''The President is an extremely popular politician and he certainly has the right to give recommendations to voters and will use this right.'' ''As any citizen, he will listen to election programmes and pledges, and will have the right to say who of the candidates, in his opinion, is best fit for the post,'' Mr Peskov added.

UNI