MOSCOW (AP) — Vladimir Putin, the man who will become Russia’s president for a third term next month, indicated today he would back a law that bars others from doing what he did, ruling as president more than twice.

But Putin also suggested such a law would not apply to himself, leaving open the possibility that he could run for a fourth presidential term in 2018.

The Russian Constitution now bars a person from being president for more than two consecutive terms. Putin was Russia’s president from 2000 to 2008 — in two four- year terms — but had to step down to avoid the issue of consecutive terms. He did not step far away — becoming the country’s prime minister and remaining Russia’s most powerful leader despite the title change.

But because of that “consecutive” clause, Putin was able to run for a third term in the March president vote. He won amid an unprecedented wave of street protests stemming from allegations of widespread vote rigging in December’s parliamentary election and will be sworn in on May 7.