Russian President Vladimir Putin says he believes his people will extend his tenure beyond 2024 when his current term expires. He is so far spent 20 years as President.
‘I’m sure the Russian people will support me’: Putin is confident of becoming Russia’s leader for LIFE after changing the constitution
Putin says he believes Russians will support sweeping changes to constitution
Planned changes could pave the way for him to extend leadership beyond 2024
Putin is supposed to step down as president by 2024 under the current rules
Vladimir Putin believes the Russian people will support his sweeping changes to the country’s constitution that could keep him in power long after his presidential term ends.
The Russian President announced, as part of his annual state address on Wednesday, changes that could pave the way for him to extend his leadership beyond 2024.
A day after the shock announcement, that saw his entire government – including Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev – resign, Putin said he believed the people supported these changes.
In his address, Putin a former KGB agent – whose term ends in 2024 – described how power would be shifted from the presidency to parliament and the state council, which currently only has an advisory role.
It comes as the Russian parliament overwhelmingly backed his surprise choice for a new prime minister, Mikhail Mishustin – a 53-year-old with almost no political profile.
The State Duma, the lower house of parliament, endorsed the nomination with 383 votes of 424 cast. Nobody voted against him; there were 41 abstentions.
President Vladimir Putin announced a raft of changes to the country’s constitution as part of his state of the nation address delivered on Wednesday
Vladimir Putin delivered his state of the nation address on Wednesday. At the end he also delivered shocking reforms that announced sweeping changes to Russia’s constitution
China’s Xi Jinping (pictured right) with Russia’s Vladimir Putin amended his nation’s constitution to remove presidential term limits – which has effectively made him ruler-for-life
In his speech, Putin called for the power of the State Council, an advisory body, to be expanded and enshrined in the constitution – adding to conjecture that he could take it over after 2024 to preserve power.
Some have speculated that this could result in him set to rule for life as Xi Jinping appears to have done in China.
In 2018 the Chinese leader of the ruling Communist Party had China’s constitution amended to remove presidential term limits – which has effectively served to make him ruler-for-life.
While Putin plans to impose limits to presidential terms in Russia, his other changes could still pave the way for him to extend his 20-year rule – albeit in a new capacity.
His proposals would weaken the presidency, while giving power to the parliament, the prime minister, and the state council.
On Thursday, Putin said the president would retain the power to fire officials who fail in their jobs.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev walk before a meeting with members of the government in Moscow on Wednesday. Medvedev announced his resignation after Putin announced a raft of sweeping changes
Putin, 67, has not said much, before now, about his intentions beyond 2024 when he has a legal obligation to step down as president.
But these plans will add to speculation that he intends to hold on to power in a role either as prime minister or as supreme leader of a new, revamped State Council.
In the hours after the changes were announced Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said his resignation was necessary for Putin ‘to make all decisions’ and was installed in the mysterious position of deputy.
