LONDON (Reuters) - When Russian President Vladimir Putin was preparing for last month's nationwide vote on potentially extending his rule until 2036, he let the veil slip on part of the calculation behind the constitutional change.
"If this doesn't happen, then in about two years – and I know this from personal experience – the normal rhythm of work of many parts of government will be replaced by a search for a possible successor," Putin said in an interview with state TV channel Rossiya. "We must be working, not looking for successors."