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Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has delivered his fourth and final address to the State Duma, or lower house of parliament, ahead of this inauguration as president. In Wednesday's address, Putin said he would support a law that bars others from doing what he did, running for president more than twice.
Russian Prime Minister and President-elect Vladimir Putin gestures while speaking at the State Duma, Russian Parliament's lower house, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, April 11, 2012. |
But he also suggested such a law would not apply to himself, leaving open the possibility that he could run for a fourth presidential term in 2018.
Putin said, "What about removing the two consecutive terms from the constitution and making it simply two terms, I think it is reasonable. This is something that we should discuss together with all the parties in the Parliament.
I'm absolutely serious and not only because it does not concern me. We all understand what we are talking about. The law cannot be enforced retrospectively, starting from the moment it is adopted, so I can work this term and the next term as well."
In his address, Putin also summarized his government's work in the past year, and outlined priorities for his new term in office as president. He said Russia had completely overcome the global financial crisis and was ready for a new start.
The president-elect also set several strategic and geopolitical tasks for the country, including increasing life expectancy to 75 years, increasing real wages by at least 75 percent by 2020, creating 25 million jobs, developing East Siberia and the Far East and strengthening Russia's global position through Eurasian integration.
Putin vowed to make his road maps public in his first presidential decree after his May 7 inauguration.
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