Duma approves law allowing Putin to remain in power beyond 2024
The Russian parliament today Wednesday unanimously approved changes to the Nation’s Constitution in the third and final reading, a move that now allows President Vladimir Putin to remain at the helm of the country’s leadership for an additional 12 years after his current term comes to an end in 2024.
In favor of the proposal, 283 lawmakers supported it, more than the qualified majority of two-thirds, and no votes against it were registered.
The 43 lawmakers from the Communist Party, one of four formations with parliamentary representation, abstained.
As per the Russian laws, after a parliamentary approval, the law should receive a positive opinion from the Senate (Federation Council) and the Constitutional Court.
Once the process has been completed, the law shall be enacted by Vladimir Putin, who wants a national vote on the changes to be held on April 22.
On Tuesday, the extra-parliamentary opposition announced protests under the slogan “Russia without Putin” that are expected to take place within the next ten days.
The opposition, including its leader Alexeï Navalny, vigorously denounced the constitutional review, stating that the President intends to remain in power indefinitely. Don't use plagiarised sources.Get your custom essay just from $11/page
The move irked and prompted immediate calls for resistance from various opposition groups.
“It was clear from the start that it is being done to keep Putin in power forever,” opposition activist Alexei Miniaylo, who called for the pickets on his Facebook page on Tuesday, told The Associated Press. “But the brazen manner in which it was done elicited outrage.”
Two opposition groups called for a bigger rally in Moscow on March 21 or March 22 and applied for permission to demonstrate with the authorities of the city. However, Soon afterward, Moscow City Hall announced a ban on all outdoor events with an attendance of more than 5,000 participants until April 10, saying it was part of precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.
The activists remained defiant, however, and refiled their requests, revising the number of participants from 5000 to 4,500. “Our position is that if the coronavirus is such a dangerous threat, then they should cancel the vote (on the constitutional reform), as it can expose millions of people to infection,” Mikhail Svetov, leader of the Civil Society movement, told the AP. “And if it is not that dangerous, then rallies should be allowed.” He argued.
Announced in January by the President, this is the first revision of the Constitution since its adoption in 1993 and is considered a way to prepare for post-2024, the year on which Putin’s second presidential term comes to an end.
The approved amendments cover both the political system, socio-economic guarantees, and conservative corporate values defended by the Russian President.
Thus, the new fundamental law includes the figure of God, marriage as the union of a man with a woman hence a ban on homosexuality and lesbianism in the country and the prohibition on ceding territories to other countries.
The amendments also incorporate the concept of “founding people of the State”, by pointing out that their language, Russian, is the official language of the country.