MOSCOW, April 26 (RIA Novosti) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said in his annual state of the nation address to the Russian parliament on Thursday that it was his last one and the next would be delivered by another president.
"In spring of 2008 the term of my presidential powers expires and the next annual state of the nation address to the Russian parliament will be delivered by another head of state," Putin said.
The prospect of President Vladimir Putin remaining in power for a third presidential term, after 2008 when his current term expires, has been widely debated in Russia, although the president himself has repeatedly said he will not run again.
Under the current Constitution, the president can be elected for two consecutive terms of a maximum of four years.
The president said that since it was his last address to the parliament many expected that it would be devoted to an analysis of his time in office since 2000, as well as his recommendations for the future.
"I believe it would be untimely for us to give an analysis of our work today and it is too early for me to speak of my 'political will'," Putin said.
