The President of Russia could remain in power until 2036. Vladimir Putin is required by the constitution to step down from the role of President in 2024 after the end of his second sequential presidential term, but that could soon be changing.
This deadline had led to lots of questions about how Putin could find a way to keep himself in power in Russia, or at least ensure a safe transition for himself.
Putin is now 67 years old after being in power for 20 years, becoming Russia’s longest-serving leader since Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin.
In the end, after a series of choreographed political steps that took just over three hours, the queery was resolved in an afternoon meaning we could potentially be seeing a Putin presidency until 2036.
A member of Russia’s ruling party announced the strategy in parliament by proposing an amendment to the Russian constitution that would effectively reset Vladimir Putin’s presidential term count back to zero.
Putin announced he would personally address parliament on the matter, causing many questions to be pondered across coverage on state television about whether he would accept or turn down the proposal.
He backed the proposal.
This announcement to as a shock to some, after Putin had been suggesting publicly in recent months that he could be finally leaving the Presidency behind.
For instance in January, he told a world war two veteran that he was worried of a return to the 1980s, when Russian leaders “stayed in power until the end of their days,” rather than providing for a transition of power to a successor.
Putin later backtracked on this statement saying:
“It was an incorrect statement because during the Soviet Union there were no elections.”
“In principle, this option would be possible, but on one condition; if the constitutional court gives an official ruling that such an amendment would not contradict the principles and main provisions of the constitution,” The President said, during a half-hour speech addressing the proposal.
He also said the move would have to be approved next month in a public referendum.
