Vladimir Putin intends to participate in the presidential election in March 2018. He said this at a meeting with workers of the GAZ automotive plant in Nizhny Novgorod. "I will put forward my candidacy for the post of president of the Russian Federation," Putin said at a rally-concert dedicated to the 85th anniversary of the Gorky Automobile Plant. According to him, "there is probably no better place and better reason for declaring this". The term of Putin's presidential term expires May 7, 2018. In 2018, Putin can become the president of Russia for the fourth time. Putin ruled in Russia from 2000 to the present with a break in 2008-2012, when the post of head of state was occupied by Dmitry Medvedev. The new presidential term will last from 2018 to 2024.