Putin could serve two more terms

The lower house of the Russian Parliament approved a bill that would allow the president, Vladimir Putin, to run for another two terms at the head of the country, within the framework of the amendments to the country’s Constitution.

The modifications to the Constitition limit the number of six-year terms to two, although the bill contemplates that it does not apply “to the person who exercises or has exercised the position at the time of the entry into force”, which affects Putin, who could attend the elections of 2024 and 2030.

It also states that candidates for the Presidency must be at least 35 years old, have lived permanently in Russia for at least 25 years, and have no citizenship or residence permit in another country.

The bill, which has yet to be approved by the Upper House and ratified by the president himself, also contemplates that the candidates to preside over the electoral commission must be at least 30 years old.

The referendum on the Constitution, held in 2020, resulted in a favorable vote of 77.92 % of the voters. Among other issues, the reforms modify the functions of the Executive and the legislative power and expressly prohibit the secession of Russian territories.

Putin, 68, is completing his second and possible last consecutive term, which ends in 2024, having previously served from 2000 to 2008, when he was succeeded by Dimitri Medvedev and Putin became prime minister.

K. Tovar

Source: Sputnik