The New Amendments Open Up Opportunities For Putin To Become President For Life Of Russia

Vladimir Putin (Pixabay)

JAKARTA - Russian President Vladimir Putin said in front of parliament and broadcast on television that he believes the constitutional amendments will allow him to run for president again in the next election. This can also be done if the Russian Constitutional Court does not object.

Previously, according to the constitution, Putin was required to resign from office in 2024, precisely when his second term as president ends. However, a member of the United Russia parliament amended the constitution that allows resetting President Putin's term to zero. The constitution also implies that if he is in good health, Putin can lead Russia until 2036 or when he is 83 years old.

The decision came after months of revising Russia's constitution announced in January by Putin. Before Putin addressed parliament, some observers believed he was looking for other positions in the government to maintain his power and ensure his personal safety after leaving the presidency.

Quoted from Reuters, Thursday, March 12, 2020, Putin also said that US President Franklin D. Roosevelt underwent four periods of leadership because of the upheaval his country was experiencing at that time. Therefore, he reminded why presidential term limits are sometimes so long.

"In conditions when a country is experiencing such shocks and difficulties, of course ... stability may be more important and should be a priority," he said, adding that Russia was still recovering from the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union.

While backing the decision to allow him to return to office as president, Putin said future presidents must adhere to the two-term limit. Putin added he hopes that one day the presidency in Russia is not "so personified as just one person."

"I am sure that we will do a lot of great things together, at least before 2024. Then we'll see," said Putin.

Kremlin critic and opposition politician Alexei Navalny said he believed Putin was trying to become president for life, while Navalny's ally Ivan Zhdanov denounced the move as tantamount to a constitutional coup.

Всё ясно. Кратко: 1. Досрочных выборов в ГД не будет. 2. Пожизненное президентство Путина будет.

- Alexey Navalny (@navalny) March 10, 2020

Putin himself has been in power for 20 years and is the longest running leader in Russia after Joseph Stalin. If Putin is allowed to serve as president again, his government will be longer than the dictator of the Soviet Union.