MOSCOW, Oct 15 (Asia Free Press): Russian President Vladimir Putin said he has not yet decided to contest the upcoming presidential election in 2024.
In an interview with US broadcaster CNBC, Russian President said he has not yet decided whether or not he will run for office again, Russian Today reported.
“No, I prefer not to answer such questions; this is my traditional answer,” He said.
“There is still much time before the next elections. Conversations on this topic destabilize the situation. The situation must be calm and stable so that all government bodies and state structures work confidently and calmly look to the future,” the broadcaster quoted Putin as saying.
However, as per the country’s constitution Putin could run again for the country’s top position in 2024 elections.
“Yes, the Constitution allows me to run for the next term, but no decisions have been made on this score yet,” he said.
Putin was elected as President of Russia in 2000 and has since served four terms in the role, with the country, and its relations with foreign nations, changing drastically over that period.
In March, Russia’s State Duma passed a law that would allow him to run for a fifth term and even hold office until 2036, when he would be 84 years old.
Aleksey Mukhin, the head of the Center for Political Information, said last year that the move looks like a “very delicate trolling” of Russia’s Western partners, adding that Putin does not have any real intention of remaining in power for more terms, but that the thought of it will keep the West “on its toes.”
In the Russian legislative elections held in September, the ruling party, United Russia, officially received close to 50% of all votes cast while sweeping the overwhelming majority of constituencies.
