Russia to vote on consti reforms of Vladimir Putin

RUSSIA’S parliament is on Tuesday expected to back President Vladimir Putin’s controversial constitutional amendments that the Kremlin leader hopes will secure the country’s political future for decades to come.

In a key second reading parliament’s lower house, the State Duma, is set to vote on a broad overhaul of the constitution. These would be the first major changes to Russia’s basic law since 1993.

Putin has been in power for two decades and is due to step down in 2024 after his fourth Kremlin term ends.

He unleashed a political storm in January when he suddenly proposed changes to the constitution and dismissed his loyal ally Dmitry Medvedev as prime minister.

Soon after, the State Duma unanimously approved the constitutional reform bill in a first reading, after less than two hours of debate. A third and final reading may also take place as early as this week.

Analysts have com

pared the constitutional changes to a sort of smorgasbord package of proposals.

They include stipulations to strengthen the already strong role of the president, enshrine the mention of Russians’ “faith in God” and to spell out that marriage is a heterosexual union.

Russians will vote on the constitutional reforms once the legislation has been approved by both houses of parliament. The plebiscite has been set for April 22.

But the opposition, including Putin’s most prominent critic Alexei Navalny, have criticised the proposals. They are warning that the Kremlin strongman wants to remain leader for life.

- ‘Not about me’ -

Putin, 67, however has said he would not bend the law to stay in power by any means, suggesting instead he wanted to cement his political legacy.

“This isn’t about me,” Putin said at a meeting with members of the public in the central city of Ivanovo on Friday.

“We are proposing amendments not for 5 or 10 years but at least for 30 to 50 years. This is not about now.”