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Vladimir Putin may become longest serving Russian leader since Stalin

Vladimir Putin has opened the door to a fourth presidential term that would make him the longest serving Russian leader since Stalin.

Vladimir Putin and Joseph Stalin
Vladimir Putin looks to have opened the door to a fourth presidency, which would make him Russia's longest serving leader since Stalin Credit: Photo: BULENT KILIC/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

Mr Putin, who has spent 13 years at the helm of Russia’s government, refused to rule out running at the next presidential elections in 2018 during a public discussion on Thursday night.

The comment came after Mr Putin asked French Prime Minister Francoise Fillon whether he was considering a presidential run. Mr Fillon responded that he would not answer the question until Mr Putin himself answered it, to which Mr Putin replied: “I don’t rule it out.”

He reportedly confirmed that position at a closed reception after the public discussion, telling participants who pressed him that “time will tell.”

Mr Putin, 60, first served as President between 2000 and 2008, when he stepped down in accordance with the two-term limit in the Russian constitution. He returned to the presidency after a four-year stint as prime minister in 2012.

His predecessor, Dmitry Medvedev, changed the constitution to extend presidential terms to six years, so a fourth term would keep him in the Kremlin until 2024.

That would make him the longest serving ruler of the world’s largest country since Josef Stalin, who served as General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Soviet Communist Party for 30 years.