Putin May Have Surprise Choice For Successor

Putin with one potential successor, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev (ITAR-TASS)

June 15, 2007 --- A senior Kremlin official has been quoted as saying the successor to President Vladimir Putin, who is to step down next year, may be someone not yet seen as a potential candidate.

Presidential aide Igor Shuvalov said another candidate might emerge later this year, Russia's RIA Novosti news agency reported.

Presently, two first deputy prime ministers, Sergei Ivanov and Dmitry Medvedev, are seen as Putin's most likely successors.

Putin has declined to identify his choice, saying only that the Russian people will choose his successor.

(RIA Novosti)