Putin might return as Russian president in 2012: reports
MOSCOW. September 12. KAZINFORM. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Friday indicated that he might run for the presidency in the 2012 presidential election, but said he would not compete with incumbent President Dmitry Medvedev, Russian news agencies reported; Kazinform refers to Xinhua.
Putin on Friday met with Russia experts from the Valdai Discussion Club at his residence outside Moscow.
"Putin said he and Medvedev would confer with the (United Russia) party, which is to decide who will be nominated as a candidate for president," Itar-Tass and Interfax quoted Alexander Rahr, a German political scientist, as saying after the meeting.
This is a signal to the public that he could return to the post of president, Rahr said; Kazinform cites Xinhua. See www.xinhuanet.com for full version.