Putin hints at keeping influence, state control

MOSCOW, Apr 26 (Reuters) Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a keynote annual address today, offered scant clues about who would succeed him but made it clear he expects a say in Russia's direction after he leaves office.

Putin's last state of the nation speech before stepping down was heavy with vote-winning promises and criticism of foreign meddling.

He unveiled plans to boost spending on pensions, atomic energy, shipbuilding and housing but danced around the biggest question in Russian politics -- who he will anoint as his successor.

''My presidential authority expires in 2008 and the next state of the nation speech will be done by another head of state and so many colleagues expected this speech would concentrate mainly on the results of our work since 2000,'' Putin said.

''But it is premature for me to come out with political last wills and testaments,'' Putin said, to applause from Russia's most senior officials, general, deputies and bishops. ''Though in truth one should always think of the future.'' Kremlin watchers and investors scan state television for any hint about who could rule Russia in 2008, when the constitution says Putin must step down, though he could return later.

Candidates include first deputy prime ministers Sergei Ivanov and Dmitry Medvedev, Railway Chief Vladimir Yakunin and Putin's chief-of-staff Sergei Sobyanin.

''The president was very definite, saying that it is too early to think about his last will,'' said Mikhail Margelov, chairman of the international affairs committee in the upper house of parliament.

''The way the whole address was formulated and the ideas of the address ... shows that the president is not going to draw a line under his political career after March 2008,'' he said.

NO LAST WILL Putin said Russia needed a national idea and suggested wider support for the Russian language, policies that tie in with Yakunin's thinking, while he praised large social spending projects controlled by Medvedev.

But he gave strong support to atomic energy, the development of nanotechnology, the army and shipbuilding, all areas overseen by Ivanov, who was promoted by Putin on Feb. 15.

Hawkish comments about foreign meddling and the suspension of commitments under the Conventional Forces in Europe treaty also tied in with Ivanov's world view, said Tim Ash, an economist at Bear Stearns International in London.

''The general tone of the address, with particular criticism of foreign meddling in domestic politics, and threats to withdraw Russia from the Conventional Forces in Europe treaty, arguably plays into the hands of Sergei Ivanov,'' said Ash.

Putin is by far the country's most popular politician as Russians credit him with bringing stability and the longest economic boom for a generation after the chaos that followed the fall of the Soviet Union.

Frequently asked about who will take over, Putin has said Russians will have a choice and that the continuation of his policies is more important than the leader involved.

''If Putin had made a stake on one of them (Ivanov or Medvedev) or dropped a clear-cut hint so that it became obvious to everyone, then he would have immediately turned into a 'lame duck,''' said Alexei Makarkin, a political analyst.

''But he does not want to show he is leaving. So I believe he will not play down this intrigue till the very end,'' he said.

Reuters JS GC1851