Will Putie Be Setting Up A Caretaker Government?

According to the Soviet Russian constitution, president Vladimir Paranoid is limited to two consecutive terms and must step down following elections next year. However, Putie has not ruled out running again in 2012.

"Theoretically it's possible. The constitution does not forbid it. But it's very far away, I haven't even thought about this."

I'll believe that right after I'm named high rabbi of Mecca and Medina.

Amid repeated calls by politicians for Putin to remain in power after 2008, the president has stressed that he opposes changing the constitution to allow him to stay on. But he has also suggested he will choose a favored successor and hinted that he may keep a hand in running the country after he steps down.

So, who would be the ideal puppet? And wouldn't object to Putie keeping his hand in the cookie jar?

Rumor has it that the incumbent president's wife could become a leader of the Spravedlivaya Rossia party (Fair or Just Russia, also translated as Russia of Justice; formed in October 2006 as a merger of Rodina, the Russian Party of Life and the Russian Pensioners' Party). Two facts are usually cited in this context, among others... The party was recently joined by the president's cousin, Igor Putin, and the year 2007 was declared a Year of the Russian Language, which gives Lyudmila Alexandrovna [Putin], who has long been overseeing the project, an excellent road-show opportunity, as well as the much needed exposure.

As they say, stay tuned.