俄羅斯總統梅德韋杰夫日前提議修改憲法將總統任期延長至6年。俄媒體認為，梅德韋杰夫如果修改憲法，無疑是為普京2009年重返總統寶座鋪墊好了道路。按照憲法對總統任期的要求，普京在兩屆任期滿后由梅德韋杰夫接任。有人猜測梅德韋杰夫屆滿后，普京可能再次入主克里姆林宮。不過，普京的發言人卻表示此類報道毫無根據、純屬臆測。

A proposal on Wednesday by President Dmitry Medvedev to extend the presidential term from four to six years has re-ignited speculation that Putin, who stepped down this year because of a term limit, could be preparing a comeback.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin could return to the presidency next year, a Russian newspaper reported yesterday citing a source close to the Kremlin, but Putin's spokesman said the report was untrue.

A proposal on Wednesday by President Dmitry Medvedev to extend the presidential term from four to six years has re-ignited speculation that Putin, who stepped down this year because of a term limit, could be preparing a comeback.

Vedomosti newspaper reported that the proposed term extension was part of a plan drawn up by Vladislav Surkov, Medvedev's first deputy chief of staff, to trigger an early presidential election in which Putin would run.

"Under this scenario Medvedev could resign early citing changes to the constitution and then presidential elections could take place in 2009," the newspaper said, citing the unidentified source close to the Kremlin.

In the interim, Medvedev would push through unpopular social reforms and implement the changes to the constitution to extend the presidential term "so that Putin could return to the Kremlin for a longer period", the newspaper said.

The paper said Putin could then serve as president for two six-year terms, from 2009 to 2021.

"These are purely the ponderings of the newspaper and the report is absolutely without foundation," Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

(Agencies)

（英語點津 Helen 編輯）