Putin may remain as Russia’s President until 2036

The upper house of the Russian Parliament, the Federation Council, adopted on Wednesday, following the lower house - the State Duma, an act amending the constitution of the country. It strengthens the role of the president and contains an amendment thanks to which Vladimir Putin will be able to apply for another term in 2024.

The adopted document is the result of one and a half months of work of a special working group appointed by Putin on the proposals of the head of state himself and amendments tabled just before the second reading. One of them is the amendment that will allow counting Putin's presidential terms from scratch after the amended constitution comes into force. He will have the right to run in the 2024 and 2030 elections.

The constitution will state as well that the president “generally directs” the work of the government. The prime minister will no longer set directions for the cabinet's work, but only “organize” his work on the instructions of the president. The president's control over the prosecutor's office will increase.

(PAP)