NEW : Putin says Medvedev should be the next prime minister if the party is reelected . Addressing the party congress in Moscow , Medvedev said he wanted to answer the important question of who would be the party 's presidential candidate -- and that he believed it should be Putin , the party 's chairman . Comment: Putin previously served as president from 2000 to 2008 . Presidential elections will be held in March , after a parliamentary ballot in December .
NEW : Putin says Medvedev should be the next prime minister if the party is reelected . Comment: Putin previously served as president from 2000 to 2008 . Presidential elections will be held in March , after a parliamentary ballot in December .