Russian Parliament Approves Extending Presidential Terms from Four Years to Six Years.
Sometimes when I read "the real news", I have to wonder if its "the real news" or if I am reading something from The Onion . Some of the things that happen lately, you have to ask, "WHAT?!?"
The Russian Parliament approved longer term limits. I think Putin wants that so he can be President of Russia again. Presidential terms will be extended from four years to six years under this new change to the Russian Consitution, the first change to the Russian Constitution since it was adopted in 1993.
In the vote, 392 members of the legislative body voted for it and 57 members voted against it. Putin's United Russia party dominates the Duma and they all voted for this change. The only people who voted against the chage are the Communists and they claim they opposed it because they think these are trends leading to an authoritarian state in Russia. The COMMUNISTS in Russia are complaining about the possibility of a totalistarian state? Either they have completely redefined their party or they're just unhappy they aren't the ones involved in this totalitarian state, but I would agree that Putin and his followers are leading Russia to a totalitarian state.
A poll was taken and 55% of Russians agree with extending Presidential Term Limits while only 34% oppose it. It seems like people in Russia like authoritarian rules.
Russian parliament approves longer presidential terms
by Dario Thuburn Dario Thuburn
Fri Nov 21, 1:56 pm ET
MOSCOW (AFP) - Russian lawmakers gave final approval Friday to a bill extending presidential terms, after a speech on the economy by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin revived speculation over his political ambitions.
The bill, which sailed through the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, would extend presidential terms from four to six years and would be the first change to Russia's post-Soviet constitution adopted in 1993.
The reform was proposed little more than two weeks ago by President Dmitry Medvedev, who said it would strengthen political stability, and has since been rushed through parliament amid a spiralling economic crisis.
Friday's vote was the third and final reading of the bill in the Duma, where 392 deputies voted in favour and only 57 voted against. The body is dominated by the pro-Kremlin United Russia party.
Only members of the opposition Communist Party, which has a minority in the parliament, voted against the changes on Friday. Communists have previously complained that the changes are part of an "authoritarian" trend in Russia.
"The immovability of the powers-that-be is building up the problems," Nikolai Kolomeitsev, a member of parliament from the Communist Party, told AFP, referring to Russia's mounting financial and economic difficulties.
The legislation now needs to be approved by the upper house, where it is expected to pass easily, and by two-thirds of regional legislatures in a process that one of the bill's proponents estimated would take around a month.
The parliamentary session came a day after a congress of United Russia in which Putin, the party's chairman, gave a wide-ranging speech on how the government would deal with the effects of the global financial crisis.
"Putin took the political initiative and responsibility" by giving a speech at the party congress "that was meant to be given by Medvedev," the Vedomosti daily newspaper reported Friday, citing political analyst Dmitry Badovsky.
The extension of presidential terms has been seen by some analysts as paving the way for Putin's return to the presidency after he left in May having served the maximum two consecutive terms allowed by the constitution.
"The haste in which the Duma adopted this reform leads one to think that the authorities are speeding up to prepare a return to the Kremlin for Putin," said Yevgeny Volk from the Heritage Foundation, a conservative US think tank.
Vedomosti earlier this month cited two Kremlin sources saying that Medvedev would resign soon after the approval of the amendments and that Putin would then run in a presidential election next year.
The constitution has no provision against former presidents who have already served two terms from running again, as long as some time passes between the end of their second term and their new candidacy.
Earlier this week, Putin's spokesman said the prime minister would continue his presidential tradition of holding a phone-in with the Russian people this year, further reinforcing the impression he is still the de facto leader.
The constitutional amendments passed Friday will also extend terms for the parliament from four to five years and increase parliamentary oversight over government in a move seen as bolstering Putin and his United Russia party.
Liberal parties critical of Putin are not represented in this parliament.
The United Civil Front, an organisation led by former chess champion and bitter Kremlin critic Garry Kasparov, said in a statement that the reform would "establish a dictatorial regime in Russia."
The group held a small protest outside the parliament building on Friday, with one man holding up a sign reading: "We Demand an Increase in Pensions, Not in Presidential Terms!"
But a poll by the independent Levada Centre carried out on November 14-17 found that 55 percent of Russians approved of the constitutional reform, while 34 percent opposed it. The poll had a margin of error of three percent.
Copyright © 2008 Agence France Presse. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AFP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of Agence France Presse.
The Russian Parliament approved longer term limits. I think Putin wants that so he can be President of Russia again. Presidential terms will be extended from four years to six years under this new change to the Russian Consitution, the first change to the Russian Constitution since it was adopted in 1993.
In the vote, 392 members of the legislative body voted for it and 57 members voted against it. Putin's United Russia party dominates the Duma and they all voted for this change. The only people who voted against the chage are the Communists and they claim they opposed it because they think these are trends leading to an authoritarian state in Russia. The COMMUNISTS in Russia are complaining about the possibility of a totalistarian state? Either they have completely redefined their party or they're just unhappy they aren't the ones involved in this totalitarian state, but I would agree that Putin and his followers are leading Russia to a totalitarian state.
A poll was taken and 55% of Russians agree with extending Presidential Term Limits while only 34% oppose it. It seems like people in Russia like authoritarian rules.
Russian parliament approves longer presidential terms
by Dario Thuburn Dario Thuburn
Fri Nov 21, 1:56 pm ET
MOSCOW (AFP) - Russian lawmakers gave final approval Friday to a bill extending presidential terms, after a speech on the economy by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin revived speculation over his political ambitions.
The bill, which sailed through the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, would extend presidential terms from four to six years and would be the first change to Russia's post-Soviet constitution adopted in 1993.
The reform was proposed little more than two weeks ago by President Dmitry Medvedev, who said it would strengthen political stability, and has since been rushed through parliament amid a spiralling economic crisis.
Friday's vote was the third and final reading of the bill in the Duma, where 392 deputies voted in favour and only 57 voted against. The body is dominated by the pro-Kremlin United Russia party.
Only members of the opposition Communist Party, which has a minority in the parliament, voted against the changes on Friday. Communists have previously complained that the changes are part of an "authoritarian" trend in Russia.
"The immovability of the powers-that-be is building up the problems," Nikolai Kolomeitsev, a member of parliament from the Communist Party, told AFP, referring to Russia's mounting financial and economic difficulties.
The legislation now needs to be approved by the upper house, where it is expected to pass easily, and by two-thirds of regional legislatures in a process that one of the bill's proponents estimated would take around a month.
The parliamentary session came a day after a congress of United Russia in which Putin, the party's chairman, gave a wide-ranging speech on how the government would deal with the effects of the global financial crisis.
"Putin took the political initiative and responsibility" by giving a speech at the party congress "that was meant to be given by Medvedev," the Vedomosti daily newspaper reported Friday, citing political analyst Dmitry Badovsky.
The extension of presidential terms has been seen by some analysts as paving the way for Putin's return to the presidency after he left in May having served the maximum two consecutive terms allowed by the constitution.
"The haste in which the Duma adopted this reform leads one to think that the authorities are speeding up to prepare a return to the Kremlin for Putin," said Yevgeny Volk from the Heritage Foundation, a conservative US think tank.
Vedomosti earlier this month cited two Kremlin sources saying that Medvedev would resign soon after the approval of the amendments and that Putin would then run in a presidential election next year.
The constitution has no provision against former presidents who have already served two terms from running again, as long as some time passes between the end of their second term and their new candidacy.
Earlier this week, Putin's spokesman said the prime minister would continue his presidential tradition of holding a phone-in with the Russian people this year, further reinforcing the impression he is still the de facto leader.
The constitutional amendments passed Friday will also extend terms for the parliament from four to five years and increase parliamentary oversight over government in a move seen as bolstering Putin and his United Russia party.
Liberal parties critical of Putin are not represented in this parliament.
The United Civil Front, an organisation led by former chess champion and bitter Kremlin critic Garry Kasparov, said in a statement that the reform would "establish a dictatorial regime in Russia."
The group held a small protest outside the parliament building on Friday, with one man holding up a sign reading: "We Demand an Increase in Pensions, Not in Presidential Terms!"
But a poll by the independent Levada Centre carried out on November 14-17 found that 55 percent of Russians approved of the constitutional reform, while 34 percent opposed it. The poll had a margin of error of three percent.
Copyright © 2008 Agence France Presse. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AFP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of Agence France Presse.