ANAPA (Southern Russia), November 13 (RIA Novosti) - In heading the list of candidates for the leading, Kremlin-backed party, the president took on enormous responsibility for ensuring continuity of current policies, the Russian premier said Tuesday.
"By heading United Russia's list [for the December 2 parliamentary polls], the president, I believe, took on an enormous responsibility to ensure the continuity of the current policy," Viktor Zubkov said giving no further details.
United Russia is widely expected to win a majority of seats in the State Duma. But Putin's own plans after he steps down after the March 8 presidential polls are unclear.
Putin has presided over economic growth and improving living standards and remains the country's most popular politician to date. He has rejected supporters' proposals to amend the Constitution to allow him to run for a third consecutive term.