"Boris Yeltsin did not give me power." Putin - about how he became president, and his successor

During the “Direct Line”, Vladimir Putin said that the first president of the Russian Federation Boris Yeltsin did not give him power directly. According to Putin, he became the head of state within the framework of the law: the post of temporarily acting president crossed him, because at the time of the resignation of Yeltsin he was the prime minister.

“Boris Yeltsin did not give me this power. This is the point. In accordance with our law, in the case of the president of his powers, the acting President becomes the Prime Minister of the Government. I was the chairman of the government. I will not hide, other events affected this. I was the director of the Federal Security Service, ”Putin said.

During the conversation about Yeltsin, Putin also answered the question about his successor, speaking as vaguely as possible: when he leaves the post of president and transfer power to someone else, the head of state did not specify.

“They say that a holy place is not empty and there are no irreplaceable people. But my responsibility is to give recommendations to those people who will claim the President’s place. The time will do and I hope I can say that some person is worthy of leading such a wonderful country, ”Putin answered.

In addition, he added that the President in Russia chooses the people.

“The decision on who will head the Russian Federation is ultimately always for Russian citizens,” the president said.