Moscow - The architecture of Russia's future power system became visible Monday as a confident-looking Vladimir Putin told delegates at the pro-Kremlin United Russia party's convention that he will serve as prime minister if his longtime aide Dmitri Medvedev is elected to replace him as president next March.
"If the people give their trust to Dmitri Anatolyevich Medvedev and he is elected president, then I would be ready to continue my work as head of government," Mr. Putin said.
Putin, whose approval rating was nearly 90 percent last month, has long affirmed that he will step down as Russia's Constitution requires when his second term expires in March. It was he who first floated the idea of becoming prime minister when he agreed to head United Russia's ticket in the Dec. 2 parliamentary elections, in which the party won a majority.
Last week, Mr. Medvedev, Putin's hand-picked successor, formally offered him the job. Putin's acceptance Monday sealed the deal. But experts say his decision was clearly scripted in advance, and will place him first in line to succeed the president under Russian law.-----------------------
The stage is set and the characters all know their lines....now we just have to wait for the curtain.
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