MOSCOW, December 18 (Sputnik) – Russian President Vladimir said his decision to run for another term in office would depend on the overall results of the country’s development, but it was too early to announce presidential aspirations for elections slated for 2018.
Putin also said that he takes full responsibility for everything that is occurring in the country.
“Responsibility for everything always lies on the head of the state, and then further down the ranks,” Putin said.
“I never ducked and don’t plan to duck these responsibilities,” he added.
Russia is currently experiencing an economic slowdown caused by a dramatic decrease in oil prices, that account for a significant part of country’s revenues, and certain geopolitical tensions. The Russian national currency entered a decline in July, shedding more than a half of its value.
Despite the economic downturn in the country, Putin's approval rating has surged to 81 percent, an increase from the 58 percent he received at the beginning of his current term, a poll released earlier in the day by the Associated Press (AP) and NORC Center for Public Affairs Research revealed.
Vladimir Putin is currently serving his third term as the Russian president. Putin previously was president from 2000 to 2008. He served as prime minister for four years before being elected president again in March 2012. His current term will last six years, until 2018.
According to the Russian Constitution, the president is elected by popular vote for a six-year term. The Constitution does not limit the total number of terms the president may serve. A person can serve two consecutive terms, but must wait a full term before running again.
