Putin hints at “new role”

Putin hints at new role after he steps down; Opposes changing constitution to allow 3d term

President Vladimir Putin told the nation yesterday that he was against changing the constitution to extend his rule, but he dropped a vague hint about a mysterious new role he might assume after stepping down. The remarks, in a televised question-and-answer session with the public, were likely to fuel speculation that the Kremlin was mulling ways for Putin to remain at the helm after his second and final terms ends in 2008. Some saw his statement as an attempt to assuage concerns among his inner circle about succession.

‘’I see my task as not sitting in the Kremlin eternally so that the same face will be shown on TV. . . . I see my task as creating conditions for the country’s long-term development, so that young and literate managers come to govern the country,” Putin said with a thin smile in response to a question on whether he could run for a third term.