Changing The Constitution Again, Vladimir Putin Could Be President Of Russia Until 2036

Russian President Vladimir Putin. (Wikimedia Commons / World Economic Forum / Remy Steinegger)

JAKARTA - Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law that allows him to remain as president, until 2036.

The law allows him to run for two more terms, each for six years after his current term expires in 2024.

This change follows last year's constitutional changes and was supported by a public vote last summer. Vladimir Putin also has the opportunity to remain as president until he is 83 years old.

Vladimir Putin is currently serving his second consecutive term as president, or his fourth term in total.

This is not the first time Vladimir Putin has changed the constitution. In 2008, he changed the constitution to secure his position.

At that time, Putin 'exchanged' positions with Dmitry Medvedev. The day after Medvedev was sworn in as President of Russia, Putin was sworn in as Prime Minister of Russia. This step was taken to circumvent constitutional provisions that prohibit the same person from serving two consecutive presidential terms.

Critics call this constitutional change a constitutional coup, carried out by amending several rules to hope for the support of the Russian people, such as strengthening pension protection, which aims to secure office after 2024.

The law signed by Putin limits future presidents to two terms in office but reworks the count of his terms. Also, this Act prevents anyone with a foreign nationality from running for the Kremlin.

Before being signed by Putin, this law was passed by the Duma Lower House and Upper House last month.

To note, Putin first served as Prime Minister of Russia in 1999-2000 during the time of President Boris Yeltsin. After that, he became President of Russia for two consecutive terms, namely 2000-2004 and 2004-2008.

From 2008 to 2012, as mentioned above, Putin became the Prime Minister of Russia. After that, Putin was re-elected as president in the 2012-2018 and 2018-2024 periods.