Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, who has been in power since 2000, has opened the door to constitutional changes that would extend his rule until 2036.
Moscow| Russian President Vladimir Putin could stay in power until 2036 after legislators on Tuesday voted in favour of a last-ditch proposal to reset the clock on the leader’s presidential term count in an updated version of the constitution.
Under current Russian law, Putin is required to step down as president in 2024, when his second consecutive term in office comes to an end.
The proposed constitutional amendment was brought by MP Valentina Tereshkova, a loyal Putin supporter, and called for the presidential term limit to either be scrapped or simply for Putin to be allowed to run for president again.
A total of 383 State Duma lawmakers voted in favour of the package of constitutional amendments, with 43 abstentions and none against.
The measures must now be approved by the upper house Federation Council and be put to a public vote scheduled for April 22.
Putin announced the package of reforms in January, then repeatedly denied that they were meant to extend his grip on power as he approaches the end of his fourth and final presidential term in 2024.
However, on Tuesday another amendment was introduced that would reset presidential terms, making it possible for Putin to run again if the constitutional court allows it.
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The changes “are not just justified… they plan… for the strategy of the development of the country,” Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said after Wednesday’s vote, Russian agencies reported.
Other additions to the constitution include guarantees for pension payouts and minimum salaries, and giving parliament additional power to nominate the head of government.
They also give the president additional powers to fire judges in the country’s higher courts and to reject laws passed by parliament.
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