PUTIN Poised For Another 16 Years In Power

MOSCOW Russians appeared to have paved the way for Vladimir Putin to stay in power until 2036 by voting overwhelmingly for a package of constitutional changes that will also boost pensions, partial results of a nationwide vote showed on Wednesday.

Results, after almost a third of ballots had been counted, indicated that the 67-year-old former KGB officer who has ruled Russia for more than two decades would easily win the right to run for two more terms. That means he could remain president for 16 more years.

The Central Election Commission said 74 per cent of votes counted had supported changing the constitution. Just under 25 per cent had voted no of the 30 per cent of ballots counted.

Russians have been encouraged to vote with prize draws offering flats and an ad campaign highlighting other constitutional amendments in the same reform bundle, such as the pensions protection and a de facto ban on same-sex marriages. One-off payments of 10,000 roubles ($141) were transferred to those with children at Putin’s order.