''Putin era'' will not end in 2008: Expert

Moscow, June 20: Incumbent Russian President Vladimir Putin will not run in the 2008 presidential elections, but that does not mean the end of ''Putin era'', a prominent political scientist Vyacheslav Nikonov stated today.

''I can say definitely that the next Russian President will not be Putin,'' RIA Novosti news agency quoted Nikonov as saying at a news conference in Beijing.

Nikonov is attending the 10th meeting of the International Association of Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions in Beijing as Chairman of the Public Chamber's Commission for International Cooperation and People's Diplomacy.

''The constitution will not undergo any changes until March 2008, when presidential elections will be held,'' he said.

Meanwhile, Russia's Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs President Alexander Shokhin said here that during the State Duma's parliamentary elections in December, Putin might join some political party that would win the majority in the lower house and be able to veto any decision of the next President.

Shokhin preferred not to name any party, but obviously meant the pro-Putin United Russia party, which an enjoys absolute majority in the State Duma.

He added if it happens, the presidential elections of 2008 would be just ''a technical matter,'' while the ''definite name of Putin's successor would be of no meaning,'' as ''the continuity of policy would be preserved.'' The clear manifestation of such a continuity was participation of both potential successors, Russian First Deputy Prime Ministers Sergei Ivanov and Dmitry Medvedev, in the recent Economic Forum in St Petersburg.

Shokhin, a key financial reform minister under late President Boris Yeltsin, said closer to presidential elections in early 2008, another person might emerge as the successor, but more likely than not will have any material financial resources underhand to avoid new redistribution of property.

Last week, Putin's senior aide Igor Shuvalov said besides two potential successors- Ivanov and Medvedev-a third name might appear soon.

''The President might come up with another surprise, disclosing the possibility of a new figure,'' Shuvalov said referring to Putin's possible successor.

UNI