Medvedev proposes Putin as 2012 presidential candidate

New Ireland coach Mark Aston has included 13 uncapped players in his 30-man squad for the autumn internationals against France and Scotland.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has proposed Vladimir Putin as presidential candidate for 2012, almost certainly guaranteeing Putin’s return to office.

Medvedev made the proposal today in an address to a congress of United Russia, the pro-Kremlin party that dominates Russian politics.

There was no immediate official reaction from Putin or the party, but the proposal brought a heavy round of applause from the congress delegates.

The proposal appears to end months of intense speculation over whether Medvedev would seek a second term or step aside for his powerful predecessor.