Presidential candidate Dmitry Medvedev on Tuesday proposed that incumbent President Vladimir Putin should become Prime Minister after he leaves office following the presidential poll on March 2.

Medevedev’s candidacy for Russian President was backed on Monday by Putin after the pro-Kremlin ruling United Russia party and its three allies proposed his name for the presidency.

“As I confirm my readiness to run for Russian President, I appeal to (President Putin) with a request to give his consent in principle to head the Russian Government after the new President is elected,” Medvedev said in a televised remark on Russian TV, while addressing the leaders of the four parties which proposed him for President.

He said he believed it was of paramount importance for the country to retain Putin in an executive position and preserve his team. “It is one thing to elect a President, it is no less important to maintain the efficiency of the team,” Medvedev said.

He said his agreement to run for the presidency in March was prompted by the need to ensure continuity in the course Russia had been following for eight years, since Putin was first elected President.

“What do we value today? Stability, improving living standards and hopes for sustainable development,” he said, stressing education, healthcare and housing as the spheres where the first results were seen.

“Over the last few years, the authorities have managed to ease poverty, create an up-to-date health service and education, cope with the acute housing problem and achieve a new quality of life in rural areas,” he said.

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