The Russian Constitution bans more than two consecutive presidential terms. Despite rumors that he might change the law, Putin has repeatedly ruled out such a possibility. In one of his public statements, the president, whose popularity rating exceeds 70%, hinted he already knew what his plans would be after his term of office expires.
Sergei Mironov, who is also the speaker of the upper house, said, "I think Vladimir Putin's return as president in 2012 is more than possible and even necessary, and Just Russia will be happy to advance his candidacy."
As for his own ambitions, Mironov said he had no plans to join the presidential race in March 2008. "I have no such intention and will not run for president in 2008. That is my final decision," he told a news conference in Moscow.
Mironov, 54, ran against Putin in the 2004 elections, but his campaign was largely seen as symbolic. Mironov comes from St. Petersburg, Putin's home city, and is considered to be a close ally of the president.
The parliamentary speaker also said Just Russia, which is widely regarded as a Kremlin-sponsored project designed to poach votes from the Communists, might be renamed into the Socialist Party in 2008 following the parliamentary elections of December 2007.
"Our party can be renamed in 2008 into the Russian Socialist Party, and I hope we will unite all left-wing forces," Mironov said, but added it would be next to impossible to reach an agreement with the party's main rival, the Communists.
"The unconstructive position of the Communist Party leader makes any unification unrealistic," he said.
Just Russia emerged in October 2006 after Party of Life, Pensioners and Rodina (Homeland) united in October ahead of local parliamentary elections. The party describes itself as a new-leftist political force and has about 470,000 members.
