Putin sweetens electorate with pension pledge

Vladimir Putin, Russia’s Prime Minister, used his annual address to the lower house of parliament on the 20 April 2011 to announce social spending and pension increases, fuelling speculation he will seek to return as President in 2012.

With a year to go before the election, intrigue has been building over whether Mr Putin, who stood down in 2008 after two terms as President to make way for Dmitry Medvedev, will elbow his protégé out of the way or allow him a second term.

ESO: Background information: Medvedev to decide soon on second term http://www.europeansources.info/record/medvedev-to-decide-soon-on-second-term/

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