Putin says he’ll step down but stay in Russian politics

MOSCOW – Russian President Vladimir V. Putin on Wednesday reaffirmed his intent to leave the presidency in 2008 at the end of his second term, as required by the constitution, but suggested that he might continue to wield influence.

Putin’s comment was taken by some as an indication that he might seek to exercise power from another position, such as prime minister, or that he envisioned a role for himself such as that played by Deng Xiaoping after the late Chinese leader retired from his official positions.

Putin’s statement came during a live nationally televised session during which he took more than 50 citizens’ questions delivered by telephone, video feed, Internet and text messaging. The annual event has become a key means for Putin to project an image as a responsive leader.

“Although I like my job, the constitution denies me the right to run for a third term in succession,” Putin said in response to a question about Russia’s fate after he leaves office.

“But even when I no longer have governing power and the levers of presidential rule,” he continued, “I think that without adjusting the fundamental law to my personal interests, I will be able to keep the most important thing that anyone engaged in politics should cherish: that is, your trust. And using that, together we will be able to influence life in our country so as to guarantee its progress and exert influence on what is happening in Russia.”

Liliya Shevtsova, an analyst at the Carnegie Moscow Center, said she interpreted Putin’s remarks as an indication that he was “seriously pondering” an attempt to move into a kind of unofficial paramount leader role.

“The way I understood him, he doesn’t want to become a party leader, a constitutional court chairman or parliamentary speaker,” she said. “He knows that all these positions in today’s Russia are miniature compared to the presidency. That is why he is really thinking about laying down a new tradition in the style of Deng Xiaoping.”

Putin also defended a rapid increase in Russian military spending, implicitly criticized American handling of nuclear negotiations with North Korea and warned Georgia not to try to regain control of two Russian-backed separatist regions through use of force. He expressed satisfaction with the state of Russia’s economy, which has averaged about 7 percent annual growth since he took office in 2000, and said the country must reduce the gap between rich and poor.