Duma vote paves way for Putin presidency

Source: Agencies  |   2008-11-22  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

THE lower house of Russia's parliament yesterday gave its final approval to a bill extending the presidential term from four to six years, a move widely seen as paving the way for Vladimir Putin's return to the presidency.

The State Duma, dominated by the pro-Kremlin United Russia party, voted 392-57 to approve the bill at its third and final reading. The bill, proposed by President Dmitry Medvedev, now goes to the equally controlled upper house where swift approval is expected.

The only opposition to the constitutional changes came from the communists, whose proposal to limit presidents to just one term was ignored.

"All democratic principles were violated during the debate," communist Nikolai Ryabov said during yesterday's session. "The bill was passed at such a speed as if people would start living better after its passage."

Flamboyant pro-Kremlin nationalist party leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky, whose proposal to extend the presidential term to seven years instead of six was also ignored, still endorsed the bill.

"Russia has been and will remain a monarchy," Zhirinovsky said.

The widely popular Putin, now prime minister, was barred constitutionally from seeking a third straight term as president in election this year. His protege Medvedev resoundingly won the post in March. If enacted, the change would not apply to Medvedev's current term, due to end in 2012.

Putin has said the change was not tailored for him and would help boost democracy.

But the push to enact the constitutional change just months after Medvedev's election has led to speculation that his term could be cut short to usher Putin back into the Kremlin.