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Putin Remains Coy on Future Political Plans

Associated Press

   MOSCOW - Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday that a
   nationwide vote on constitutional changes he proposed wouldn't be used
   to extend his current term in office, but remained tight-lipped about
   his future political plans.
   Kremlin critics have seen Putin's amendments as part of his efforts to
   stay at the helm after his current presidential term expires in 2024.
   The proposed changes, however, don't make it clear exactly how he could
   do that.
   Asked during a meeting with students and teachers if the vote could be
   used to directly extend his term in office, Putin said it's not what he
   wants.
   "I didn't propose that to extend my authority," Putin said. "The
   election of the head of state must be held on a competitive basis."
   Observers have speculated that once his term expires Putin could use
   the amendments to continue calling the shots as head of the State
   Council or prime minister. The former position, however, is yet to be
   defined and the latter is clearly subordinate to the presidency, making
   it unlikely that Putin would want it for himself.
   It has remained unclear why the Russian leader is rushing through
   constitutional changes four years before the end of his term.
   Putin, a 67-year-old former KGB officer, who has led Russia for more
   than 20 years -- the longest since Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. Putin
   prefers to keep his plans secret until the final moment.

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