MOSCOW, Dec. 1 (UPI) -- President Vladimir Putin says a big win for his party, United Russia, would give him the moral right to exert power even after his term ends.
Putin said his heading the pro-Kremlin United Russia party list will not lead to election fraud in Sunday's parliamentary elections, RIA Novosti reported Saturday.
The Russian constitution bans Putin from a third consecutive term as president, though Putin has hinted he would seek the prime minister's post after choosing a successor to run for president, The Toronto Star reported Saturday.
Putin, who enjoys high personal popularity, and United Russia seek at least a two-thirds majority in the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, where no independents are allowed to run and only parties with at least 7 percent of the vote can take a seat, the Star reported.
Putin has touted his strongman image as needed to keep Russia prospering, while critics accuse Putin government's of growing repression and human rights violations.
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