Russian President Vladimir Putin on monday said he would lead the list of candidates of pro-Kremlin “United Russia” in the December parliamentary polls and could have a shot at becoming the Prime Minister, signalling that he may retain some position of power after the end of his term.

“With gratitude, I accept your proposal that I should head the United Russia party list,” Putin said, accepting the proposal at the United Russia Congress in Moscow to lead the party list of candidates to run for the parliamentary elections.

He also said he would consider the proposal by delegates at the Congress of the United Russia party to become the Prime Minister.

“Heading the government is quite a realistic proposal but it is too early to think about it,” he said. “This requires at least two conditions: first, the United Russia must win the December 2 elections and second, the new President must be a decent, competent and contemporary man,” he said. He, however, refused to be a member of the United Russia party. “Although I was an initiator of the establishment of United Russia, I, like the overwhelming majority of the country’s citizens, do not belong to a party,” he said.

Political observers say this is a clear indication that Putin is determined to stay at the centre of power in Russia.

His announcement came as a surprise to political observers in Moscow. Pro-Kremlin political analyst Gleb Pavlovsky described the announcement as a radical change. Pavlovsky said, “It is the most logical solution to the problem of what Putin does when he leaves the office.”

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