Russia has extended its Presidency now to 6 year terms!

Starguard · Nov 21, 2008

Maybe we should do the same

Russian parliament approves longer presidential terms

by Dario Thuburn Dario Thuburn – 2 hrs 56 mins ago

AFP/File – Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin delivers a speech at the 'United Russia' party congress …

MOSCOW (AFP) – Russian lawmakers gave final approval Friday to a bill extending presidential terms, after a speech on the economy by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin revived speculation over his political ambitions.

The bill, which sailed through the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, would extend presidential terms from four to six years and would be the first change to Russia's post-Soviet constitution adopted in 1993.

The reform was proposed little more than two weeks ago by President Dmitry Medvedev, who said it would strengthen political stability, and has since been rushed through parliament amid a spiralling economic crisis.
Friday's vote was the third and final reading of the bill in the Duma, where 392 deputies voted in favour and only 57 voted against. The body is dominated by the pro-Kremlin United Russia party.

Only members of the opposition Communist Party, which has a minority in
the parliament, voted against the changes on Friday. Communists have previously complained that the changes are part of an "authoritarian" trend in Russia.

"The immovability of the powers-that-be is building up the problems," Nikolai Kolomeitsev, a member of parliament from the Communist Party, told AFP, referring to Russia's mounting financial and economic difficulties.

The legislation now needs to be approved by the upper house, where it is expected to pass easily, and by two-thirds of regional legislatures in a process that one of the bill's proponents estimated would take around a month.

The parliamentary session came a day after a congress of United Russia in which Putin, the party's chairman, gave a wide-ranging speech on how the government would deal with the effects of the global financial crisis.

"Putin took the political initiative and responsibility" by giving a speech at the party congress "that was meant to be given by Medvedev," the Vedomosti daily newspaper reported Friday, citing political analyst Dmitry Badovsky.

The extension of presidential terms has been seen by some analysts as paving the way for Putin's return to the presidency after he left in May having served the maximum two consecutive terms allowed by the constitution.

"The haste in which the Duma adopted this reform leads one to think that the authorities are speeding up to prepare a return to the Kremlin for Putin," said Yevgeny Volk from the Heritage Foundation, a conservative US think tank.

Vedomosti earlier this month cited two Kremlin sources saying that Medvedev would resign soon after the approval of the amendments and that Putin would then run in a presidential election next year.

The constitution has no provision against former presidents who have already served two terms from running again, as long as some time passes between the end of their second term and their new candidacy.

Earlier this week, Putin's spokesman said the prime minister would continue his presidential tradition of holding a phone-in with the Russian people this year, further reinforcing the impression he is still the de facto leader.

The constitutional amendments passed Friday will also extend terms for the parliament from four to five years and increase parliamentary oversight over government in a move seen as bolstering Putin and his United Russia party.

Liberal parties critical of Putin are not represented in this parliament.
The United Civil Front, an organisation led by former chess champion and bitter Kremlin critic Garry Kasparov, said in a statement that the reform would "establish a dictatorial regime in Russia."

The group held a small protest outside the parliament building on Friday, with one man holding up a sign reading: "We Demand an Increase in Pensions, Not in Presidential Terms!"
But a poll by the independent Levada Centre carried out on November 14-17 found that 55 percent of Russians approved of the constitutional reform, while 34 percent opposed it. The poll had a margin of error of three percent.
Click to expand...

link: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081121/ts_afp/russiapoliticspresident

Rimjob Bob · Nov 21, 2008

It begins.

Marso · Nov 22, 2008

Putin is getting to where he needs someone to pop him a new asshole- right in the middle of his power-grasping fucking forehead.

Zombie · Nov 22, 2008

"Only members of the opposition Communist Party, which has a minority in
the parliament, voted against the changes on Friday. Communists have previously complained that the changes are part of an "authoritarian" trend in Russia."

It is hilarious and at the same time a little frighting that the communists of all people are the only ones defending against this move.

Paladin · Nov 22, 2008

In a related story, the Russian President's title has been formally changed; he will now be called the Total State Authority Retainer. T*S*A*R Putin was unavailable for comment.

LizK · Nov 22, 2008

Okay, now is this a one-term only 6 year term or can they run for office repeatedly?

Sunshine · Nov 22, 2008

I might be wrong, but I believe the president can serve two consecutive terms and has no limit on non-consecutive terms.

14thDoctor · Nov 22, 2008

EDIT: What Sunshine said.

RickDeckard · Nov 22, 2008

Does this mean that Medvedev is going to resign and allow Putin to resume as President any time soon?

Aurora · Nov 22, 2008

^ Yes. At the rate this is going, Putin will be president for life. Medvedev was nothing more than a placeholder. I find it interesting, tho, that Putin, as an ex-KGB agent, isn't more comfortable with pulling the strings from the shadows. I'd be

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Russia has extended its Presidency now to 6 year terms!

Starguard Fresh Meat

Rimjob Bob Classy Fellow

Marso High speed, low drag.

Zombie dead and loving it

Paladin Overjoyed Man of Liberty

LizK Sort of lurker

Sunshine Little Miss

14thDoctor Oi

RickDeckard Socialist

Aurora Vincerò!

Log in or Sign up

Russia has extended its Presidency now to 6 year terms!

Starguard Fresh Meat

Rimjob Bob Classy Fellow

Marso High speed, low drag.

Zombie dead and loving it

Paladin Overjoyed Man of Liberty

LizK Sort of lurker

Sunshine Little Miss

14thDoctor Oi

RickDeckard Socialist

Aurora Vincerò!

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