Valery Fadeev, Channel 1: The presidential elections are scheduled for March next year. Vladimir Putin hasn't declared yet if he'll run for the presidency. You're the chairman of the United Russia party. The party is probably considering nominating Putin for the presidency. Is it true? This is my first question. And, here's the second one. As a leader of the ruling party, are you ready to run for the presidency?
Dmitry Medvedev: As for the candidates for the presidency, they will be revealed soon. You are perfectly aware of my position and that of the United Russia.
Valery Fadeev, Channel 1: I'm a journalist, I have to ask.
Medvedev: Yes, I understand. But still, I'll answer you and the audience. If the incumbent president, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, runs for the presidency or agrees to be nominated, undoubtedly, the party and I as its chairman will support him in every possible way because we believe that, as a president, he successfully governs our country. In this respect, everything is perfectly legal. Who will nominate him ultimately depends specifically on the candidate. For instance, United Russia will support the direction chosen by the candidate. If Vladimir Vladimirovich agrees to be nominated and if he needs this support, of course, United Russia will provide this support.
As for me, I don't plan to run for the presidency in this political season. Naturally, I will continue working. I hope, my colleagues will forgive me.
Mikhail Fishman: Dozhd: Before I ask my question, I'd like to clarify the previous one. If Vladimir Putin does run for the presidency and you support his decision, and he wins, which few people doubt, then his total presidential tenure will have been 20 years by the end of his term, plus 4 years as the PM in between. Brezhnev's tenure, who you've mentioned, was shorter than Putin's. Thus, my question is obvious. Doesn't it violate the principle of the change of power enshrined in the Constitution?
Regarding your question, violations can take place only if there is a violation of the law. But a situation where a person wins univocally thanks to the population's absolute support, can't be deemed as a violation of the law if it occurs within compliance with the existing Constitution and legislation. It relates to what you say and the situation in other countries. Take Germany, for instance, where the same political power and the same candidate can head the government for decades. In fact, the head of the government there is mostly the head of the state because this person has all the power. And nobody doubts it. So, everything that comes in compliance with the Constitution and proceeds from democracy and the people's opinion, complies with the law and is normal.
