Macho Prime Minister Eyes Russia Presidency

Months of chatter and speculation have finally been put to bed - Vladimir Putin will run to become Russia's president in 2012.

Looking back it was obvious. This was a man priming himself for the top job.

No role has been too daunting for the macho prime minister - whether it was the nature-lover tracking whales, the people's hero dousing wildfires, the action hero straddling Harleys or the deep sea adventurer uncovering ancient urns.

His next role is likely to be one he is equally at ease in - Mr Putin was Russia's president until Dmitry Medvedev took over in 2008.

Mr Medvedev proposed at the United Russia congress on Saturday that his predecessor should return to the job. Delegates cheered as Mr Putin accepted the proposal, saying it would be a "great honour".

Many analysts believed he was actually content in his role as prime minister, effectively still running the show without the presidential duties.

But his bid will likely see him in the main seat of power until 2024.

Outside Russia, Mr Putin's regime is widely regarded as corrupt. His contempt for the West is often blatant.

His priority is regaining the country's lost superpower status. Moscow's rich have flourished under his rule but for millions across Russia life remains tough.

Incomes are low, corruption is rife and the rule of law, negligible.

Mr Medvedev made the right noises about modernising and tackling corruption but it is hard to find any substance behind his words.

Whoever actually holds the title of president is widely considered irrelevant - even without it, Mr Putin was in charge.

For some observers - this is a disaster.

Andrei Piontkovsky, director of the Moscow-based Strategic Studies Centre, said: "I think today Russian people have lost all illusions, which were created by the Kremlin propaganda machine - the illusion that there is a young, liberal-leaning president."

He believes the announcement that Mr Putin would run for the presidency next year could mark a period of unrest.

"The dissent within political and business elites grows. Elites understand that Putin will bring Russia on the verge of collapse. I don't think he will last for the next six years," Mr Piontkovsky said.

But with such an iron grip it is difficult to envisage any sort of demise, especially while the overriding attitude amongst ordinary Russian's remains one of apathy.