Putin ‘to run again as independent in March’

MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin will run as an independent in Russia’s March presidential election, but still counts on broad support from political parties and the general populace, he says.

At his annual press conference yesterday, Putin said Russia lacked a formidable political opposition because those politicians had been unable to present a viable programme for developing the country.

He said the government needed to focus on increasing financial prosperity, adding: “Everything needs to be focused on raising the incomes of citizens.”

Putin, who first became president in 2000, said the country’s gross domestic product had increased by 75% since then. –