Putin: once and future president?
During a four-hour solo performance on live TV, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Russia would step up its efforts against terrorism (in the wake of the explosion on the St. Petersburg – Moscow railroad) and he was thinking about thinking about reclaiming the presidency - a signal he could run for Russia's top office in 2012. But, in the meantime, Putin said he would focus on his current job as premier and take the tough decisions, regardless of electoral impact. Russians filed about 2 million questions by telephone or the Internet to Putin's four-hour TV marathon, similar to previous call-ins when he was president, the show demonstrated he continues to overshadow his designated successor, Dmitry Medvedev. Putin became premier in 2008 after two consecutive terms in office, but is eligible to run again in 2012. For more, read the AP
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