(Reuters) - Vladimir Putin declared on Saturday that he planned to reclaim the Russian presidency in an election next March that could open the way for the former KGB spy to rule until 2024.

The announcement, greeted by a standing ovation at a congress of the prime minister's ruling United Russia party, ended months of speculation over whether he or President Dmitry Medvedev would run.

The two have ruled in a power 'tandem' since Putin was forced by the constitution to yield the presidency in 2008 after serving a maximum two consecutive terms, and Putin said they had agreed several years ago how to divide power between them.

It was Medvedev who proposed his mentor return as president before thousands of party members in a Moscow sports stadium.

"It is a great honor for me," Putin told the audience. "Thank you, I hope for your support."

Putin, 58, described in leaked U.S. diplomatic cables as the "Alpha dog" in the tandem, then left the stage and embraced Medvedev. He also proposed his younger and more liberal protege replace him as prime minister after the election to lead a young reformist government.

Over 11 years in power, Putin has cultivated the image of a vigorous leader and been filmed riding bare chested on horseback, scuba diving and showing his judo skills.

His policies -- crushing a Chechen separatist rebellion, taming super-rich businessmen and bringing wayward regions to heel -- have similarly won him popularity among Russians.

But critics say his return to the Kremlin, virtually unopposed, could herald an era of economic and political stagnation in the world's largest country.

In an initial reaction, Washington said it expected to keep making progress in the "reset" in relations with Moscow, whoever was the next Russian president.

"While we have had a very strong working relationship with President Medvedev, it's worth noting that Vladimir Putin was prime minister throughout the reset," White House spokesman Tommy Vietor said.

MEDVEDEV TO HEAD PARTY LIST

In carefully choreographed scenes, Putin had earlier on Saturday proposed Medvedev, 46, to lead United Russia's list of candidates for a parliamentary election on December 4.

This will prepare Medvedev for a role in government. The move is also intended to help reverse a decline in support for United Russia and boost its hopes of maintaining its two-thirds majority in the State Duma lower house.

"I want to say directly: (Medvedev and I) reached an agreement between ourselves long ago, several years ago, on what to do in the future, on who should do what," Putin said.

"But both I and Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev believe that this is far from being the most important thing -- who will do what, who will sit in what place. What is far more important is something else: how we will all work, what results we achieve, and what the citizens of our country think of this."

Opinion polls show other potential candidates, such as nationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky or Communist Gennady Zyuganov, have much less support and Putin will easily be elected.

The main liberal opposition leaders such as former Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov have only limited appeal nationwide and Kasyanov's party has been barred from taking part in the parliamentary election.

The next president will be elected for six years and the constitution still limits the head of state to a maximum of two straight terms -- meaning Putin could be in power for 12 years.

Investors had been urging him to announce his plans because the political uncertainty has deterred many from putting money into the $1.5 trillion economy of the world's largest energy producer.

As president from 2000 to 2008, Putin oversaw an economic boom where household incomes improved on the back of a rise in global oil prices and his tough talking and macho image helped restore Russia's self confidence on the world stage.

But Putin, who was once a KGB officer in East Germany, is widely seen as more conservative than Medvedev and critics accuse him of riding roughshod over human rights and democracy, and restoring the power of the security forces.

ERA OF STAGNATION?

Some economists say his return to the Kremlin makes it less likely that Russia will carry out much-needed changes such as pension reforms and reducing Russia's dependency on natural resources. Oil and gas revenues make up half the budget.

But Chris Weafer, a strategist at Troika Dialog investment bank, said the need for change made it impossible for Putin not to carry out reforms.

"There will not be a return to the government style and agenda priorities of the previous Putin administration. That simply is not an option," he said.

Some experts fear a return to the economic stagnation of the 1970s and early 1980s under Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev if reforms are made, and problems such as corruption will remain.

Andrei Piontkovsky, a political analyst at the Russian Academy of Sciences, warned of "stagnation and decay for another 12 years ,  the Brezhnev era revisited."

Putin's return to the presidency puts at risk the good reputation he established among many Russians for restoring a degree of stability after President Boris Yeltsin's chaotic presidency in the 1990s following the Soviet Union's collapse.

But senior political sources had said Putin was worried by a perception that Medvedev did not have enough support among political and business leaders to ensure stability if he tried to carry out political reforms as president.

Other political sources suggested Putin simply did not trust Medvedev enough to allow him another six years as president and has been disappointed with his performance.

"I fully agree (with Putin's decision to run). He is a very good and a wise man," said Denis, a Muscovite in his mid-20s.

But some Russians complain there is still a lack of democracy and media freedom in Russia and that they have little say in who runs the nuclear power of 142 million people.

"Our opinion does not count, as (the outcome) of both the current and the previous elections was pre-determined," said Anna, a Muscovite in her 20s.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/24/us-russia-idUSTRE78N0RH20110924

Are these 'Guys' not taking the p.iss out of the electorate?

This democracy thing . . . its a bloody corrupt system.

Lets hope GEJ and Iweala dont try this sh.it on Nigerians.

Abracadabra! The more you look, the less you see.

Look how open they are about their scheme. . . . . .The constitution has been amended and they are already saying Putin will serve until 2024 (After which they swap again)

Unbelievable . . . . . . . . Not even Abacha could have conceived such a ploy yet alone be able to implement it.


We Nigerians like to believe we are corrupt - but we've got nothing on the 'White Man'.

Sun of god:

Look how open they are about their scheme. . . . . .The constitution has been amended and they are already saying Putin will serve until 2024 (After which they swap again)

Unbelievable . . . . . . . . Not even Abacha could have conceived such a ploy yet alone be able to implement it.


We Nigerians like to believe we are corrupt - but we've got nothing on the 'White Man'.

Nonsense.

So this is why we should accept the fact that all our institutions (from Soccer to education, to Pastor to mallam, to police to Nigeria Airways) are failures right?

That Russia you read about is a bad azz country and if they like, they will tell GEJ, or even some of you morons favorite coupist-BUHARI, to shut up and they will shut up. Even for those Boko daredevils,  Putin could send 10 men to do the job, and remove the bedsheets they like to tie on.

SO unless you get on that serious level, abeg, SHARRAP