SHANGHAI, June 16 (RIA Novosti) - Russian President Vladimir Putin identified three main qualities for his successor Friday, emphasizing that whoever takes on Russia's top political job after him should be above all a responsible decision-maker.
"A person who aspires to the job must have a lot of qualities, including three main ones - integrity and honesty, professionalism, and above all the ability to take responsibility for their decisions," Putin told reporters following a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in the organization's Chinese hometown.
Media reports have mooted Dmitry Medvedev, recently promoted to the post of first deputy prime minister in charge of four multibillion-dollar national projects to raise living standard, and Defense Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov, Putin's former KGB colleague, as possible candidates in the 2008 presidential campaign.
Putin said in Shanghai that the name of his successor would be known as presidential elections came closer, but said it was up to the Russian people to choose a president.
The prospect of Putin staying in power for a third presidential term after his current term in office runs out in 20008 has also been widely debated in Russia, although the president himself has repeatedly said he will not run again, as the country's Constitution bans anyone from having more than two consecutive terms as president.
Putin also said he was against amending the Constitution to allow a third consecutive term. Another option that has been advanced is that Putin could take up the reins again in 2012, as the Constitution specifies only consecutive terms in office, without imposing a limit on the total number.
Despite criticism in the West over alleged democratic backsliding, Putin remains hugely popular at home, where he is credited by many for bringing relative order and attempts to reconcile the Communists and Democrats following the uproar of the 1990s.
A survey conducted by the Levada Center pollster in 46 regions May 19-22 and published in popular daily Novye Izvestia showed that the number of Russians who would back the idea of Vladimir Putin's re-election had increased from 41% to 59% in the last nine months.
