President Vladimir Putin said he does not want Russia to return to the Soviet-era practice of giving lifelong rule, adding it cannot solve a task of transition of power and of stability of the country. 

The 67-year-old Russian leader said a transition plan for the country was crucial, in comments several days after his proposal of changes to the constitution saw the government resign and a new prime minister appointed. 

Putin made the remarks at a meeting with World War II veterans in St. Petersburg on Saturday. A veteran asked Putin "to solve some problems related to our constitution" so that the presidential power cannot be "contained by a real term." 

"In my view, it would be very worrying to return to the situation of the mid-1980s when heads of state one by one remained in power until the end of their days, (and) left office without having secured necessary conditions for a transition of power," Putin said. "So, thank you very much, but I think it's better not to return to the situation of the mid-1980s." 

"For many of our people this is linked to worries about stability in society, stability in the state – both foreign and internal stability – I perfectly understand this," he said. 

On Wednesday, Putin delivered his annual state-of-the-nation address, where he proposed a series of constitutional reforms that are aimed at increasing the powers of the parliament, making lawmakers responsible for choosing the prime minister and senior cabinet members. 

The announcement triggered the resignation of the government, led by Putin's loyal lieutenant Dmitry Medvedev. 

A previously little known tax official, Mikhail Mishustin, was tapped by Putin to take over as prime minister and he was officially appointed on Thursday. 

(With input from AFP)