Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he will run for parliament and had a realistic chance of becoming prime minister.
His staatement was a shock announcement that could herald fundamental change in the way Russia is governed.
He made the announcement at a pre-election congress of the party of power, United Russia, bringing hundreds of delegates to their feet with a roar of applause.
Mr Putin said that if the party triumphed in the 2 December vote and a worthy successor took his place as president in 2008, he could become prime minister.
He said that heading the government is a completely realistic idea, but it would require at least two conditions.
The first condition that United Russia win a majority in the State Duma is almost guaranteed, pollsters say.
President Putin said the second condition was the election of an orderly, capable and effective president in March 2008.
His announcement stunned political observers in Moscow and came after years of speculation about what the Russian leader, who enjoys approval ratings over 80%, would do after his second presidential term ends next year.
The United States, which has criticised of the state of democracy in Russia, issued a guarded response to Putin's announcement.
Many questions remained about how Mr Putin could become prime minister, which under current Russian law would require his successor to appoint him to the post.
President Putin's preferred successor is all but guaranteed to win the March presidential vote, though the question of whom he will choose is as hotly debated as his future role is.
