Putin sees wide post-election authority

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.