Putin Says Crisis Will Decide Next President
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has indicated that the handling of the economic crisis will play a major role in determining whether he or President Dmitry Medvedev runs for president in 2012.
Putin, who stepped down as president last May to become prime minister under Medvedev, told Japanese media that having two men running Russia in tandem helped ensure stability.
There has been opinion that the two leaders could be drifting apart as the grind of steering the country through the economic crisis takes its toll.
"I have very good relations with President Medvedev. Each one of us does our work. We each have our niches. But, of course, at this level questions continually arise that cross over," Putin said in the interview, which was published Sunday.
When asked how he would react if Medvedev chose to run in the 2012 presidential election, Putin said much depended on how well the authorities dealt with the crisis.
"Depending on the effectiveness of our work, President Medvedev and I will make decisions about what to do in the future, he and I," Putin said.
Putin did not make clear whether he intended to run in 2012.
Medvedev has criticized the management several times for its handling of the crisis, though he has stopped short of criticizing Putin directly.
When asked about the criticism, Putin said he was often upset himself with some ministries.
Putin, who stepped down as president last May to become prime minister under Medvedev, told Japanese media that having two men running Russia in tandem helped ensure stability.
There has been opinion that the two leaders could be drifting apart as the grind of steering the country through the economic crisis takes its toll.
"I have very good relations with President Medvedev. Each one of us does our work. We each have our niches. But, of course, at this level questions continually arise that cross over," Putin said in the interview, which was published Sunday.
When asked how he would react if Medvedev chose to run in the 2012 presidential election, Putin said much depended on how well the authorities dealt with the crisis.
"Depending on the effectiveness of our work, President Medvedev and I will make decisions about what to do in the future, he and I," Putin said.
Putin did not make clear whether he intended to run in 2012.
Medvedev has criticized the management several times for its handling of the crisis, though he has stopped short of criticizing Putin directly.
When asked about the criticism, Putin said he was often upset himself with some ministries.
