Russian President Putin to accept PM's job if ally wins Kremlin

0 Comments | AFP, December, 2007

MOSCOW (AFP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday he is ready to become prime minister if his ally Dmitry Medvedev wins a March 2 presidential election, an arrangement that analysts say could leave Putin wielding major power.

His announcement came at a congress of the ruling United Russia party that overwhelmingly chose Medvedev, a 42-year-old protege of Putin's, to be the party's candidate for the Kremlin next year.

"If the people give their trust to Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev and he is elected president, then I would be ready to continue my work as head of government," Putin told the highly choreographed congress.

Medvedev, who is currently first deputy premier and also head of energy major Gazprom, is expected to face no real opposition in the...