There. He finally said it

KRASNOYARSK, Russia: President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday that a convincing victory for the party he is leading in December 2 parliamentary elections would give him the "moral right" to maintain strong influence in Russia after he steps down next year. Putin's remarks were the clearest affirmation yet that he plans to keep a powerful hand on Russia's reins when his eight years as president are over, but he stopped short of saying whether he would seek a formal role.