Russia`s Putin talks about his future

President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday that a convincing victory for the party he is leading in Dec. 2 parliamentary elections would give him the "moral right" to maintain strong influence in Russia after he steps down next year.

Putin`s remarks were the clearest affirmation yet that he plans to keep a powerful hand on Russia`s reins when his eight years as president are over, but he stopped short of saying whether he would seek a formal role.

Putin said last month that he would lead the dominant United Russia party`s ticket in the elections to the State Duma, the lower house of parliament. The decision appeared aimed at boosting the party`s chances and ensuring himself a power base when term limits force him from office in May.

"If the people vote for United Russia, it means that a clear majority of the people put their trust in me, and in turn that means I will have the moral right to hold those in the Duma and the Cabinet responsible for the implementation of the tasks that have been set as of today," Putin said.

"In what form I will do this, I cannot yet give a direct answer. But various possibilities exist," he said, in response to a question from a construction worker who asked why he had decided to lead the United Russia ticket.

The people who lead party tickets do not always take seats in parliament, and the Kremlin has said Putin has no intention of doing so. After Putin agreed to head the United Russia ticket, the party has cast the election as a referendum on the president and the course he has set for the country.

sections: Politics