Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has defended his decision to seek more years in power, saying the system that has developed under his leadership since 2000 is not exhausted.
Putin made the comment on November 11 in discussions with a group of Russian and Western political analysts, known as the Valdai Club, at a gathering in Pozdnyakovo, outside Moscow.
The scholars presented a report saying that Putin's methods of ruling Russia seem to have reached their limits and could not go on forever.
Putin, who has announced plans to seek a return to the presidency in next year's elections, disagreed, saying the existing system had helped bring about an end to the fighting in Russia's North Caucasus, as well as strong economic growth, with individual and pensioners' incomes rising significantly.
He said, however, that there remains room for further development.
Putin, who was president from 2000-2008, added that Russia's political system was not perfect, but that he did not know of any perfect systems of governance.
In September, Putin and President Dmitry Medvedev announced that an agreement had been reached under which Medvedev would not seek another presidential term in next year's elections, but would step aside to allow Putin to seek a third team.
compiled from agency reports
Putin made the comment on November 11 in discussions with a group of Russian and Western political analysts, known as the Valdai Club, at a gathering in Pozdnyakovo, outside Moscow.
The scholars presented a report saying that Putin's methods of ruling Russia seem to have reached their limits and could not go on forever.
Putin, who has announced plans to seek a return to the presidency in next year's elections, disagreed, saying the existing system had helped bring about an end to the fighting in Russia's North Caucasus, as well as strong economic growth, with individual and pensioners' incomes rising significantly.
He said, however, that there remains room for further development.
Putin, who was president from 2000-2008, added that Russia's political system was not perfect, but that he did not know of any perfect systems of governance.
In September, Putin and President Dmitry Medvedev announced that an agreement had been reached under which Medvedev would not seek another presidential term in next year's elections, but would step aside to allow Putin to seek a third team.
compiled from agency reports
