Vladimir Putin was constitutionally ineligible to run for a third-consecutive term in 2008.[1] A popular figure in Russia, speculation rested on whom Putin might tap to be his "chosen successor".[1]
In September 2007 Putin dismissed Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov, who had previously been speculated as a potential successor to him. He then appointed Viktor Zubkov to replace Fradkov as Prime Minister, igniting immediate speculation that Putin was grooming Zubkov to serve as his presidential successor.[1]
On December 10, 2007, roughly a week after United Russia handily won the legislative election, Putin announced that his hand-picked candidate to succeed him as president would be Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.[1] The following day Medvedev announced that, if elected president, he would nominate Putin to serve as his Prime Minister.[1]