Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Saturday he does not rule out running for president again in the 2012 election.
"If this is necessary for my country and to preserve the policy formed in recent years (I also mean the period when Vladimir Putin headed the state), I do not rule out anything, including running in the [2012] election," Medvedev told the Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten.
The Russian leader gave an interview to the paper shortly before his April 26-27 visit to Norway on an invitation from King Harald V.
Medvedev also said that for him to run in the election, "at least the results of my work should be acceptable for our citizens."
Medvedev, Putin's close ally, succeeded him as president in 2008. The two men then formed a "tandem," with Putin becoming prime minister.
Putin, who along with Medvedev is among Russia's most popular politicians, has neither ruled out running in the next presidential election.
A recent survey by an independent pollster said Russians think Medvedev and Putin have almost equal chances of becoming the next Kremlin chief after the 2012 presidential election.
The poll, which also asked respondents to comment on the country's current leadership, said 55% believe Medvedev and Putin share power equally. But 66% of respondents said Medvedev's policies were controlled by Putin.
MOSCOW, April 24 (RIA Novosti)
