Russian President Putin lays out path to staying in power

Russian President Vladimir Putin laid out a path Tuesday to staying in power beyond 2024, as lawmakers approved sweeping reforms to the constitution. 

In a surprise address to the lower house State Duma, Putin said there could be a presidential "reset" allowing him to run after his current term expires.

"This would be possible... if the constitutional court rules such an amendment would not go against (the constitution)," he said.

Putin appeared before the Duma after lawmakers proposed a series of amendments to a package of constitutional reforms he announced in January.

Among them was an amendment put forward by Valentina Tereshkova, an MP and Soviet-era cosmonaut who was the first woman in space, that would annul previous presidential terms.

This would allow 67-year-old Putin, who was first elected in 2000, to run again after his current six-year term expires, and potentially stay in power until 2036. 

"These amendments are long overdue, they are needed, and I am sure they will be useful for society, for our citizens," he told lawmakers.

He said Russia needed evolutionary change, "because we have had enough of revolutions" while suggesting that the country may not yet be ready for a new leader.

Shortly after his address, Moscow's mayor banned gatherings of more than 5,000 people through to April 10, justifying the move with the need to fight the spread of the coronavirus.

Lawmakers also proposed holding early parliamentary elections but Putin said that was not necessary and the amendment was withdrawn. He also rejected a call for a lifting of the overall two-term presidential limit.

Deputies then voted to approve the reforms in the key second reading, with 382 in favour, 44 abstentions and none against.

Opposition came outside the chamber, however, in the form of a protest by some 100 people in central Moscow while opposition groups called for rallies on Friday.

A third and final reading is due in the Duma on Wednesday, followed by approval in the upper house Federation Council and a public vote on the reforms planned for April 22.

Putin shocked Russia's political establishment by announcing the package of reforms in January, the first major changes to the country's basic law since 1993.

The political changes will also give parliament the power to choose the government and increase the role of the State Council, an advisory body.

'President for life'

Other proposals aim at boosting living standards, including a guaranteed minimum wage and state pensions adjusted to inflation. 

And -- in line with Putin's strongly conservative views -- the reforms would enshrine a mention of Russians' "faith in God" and spell out that marriage is a heterosexual union. 

Russia's opposition, including Putin's most prominent critic Alexei Navalny, has denounced the proposals as an effort to make him "president for life". 

"Interesting how things turn out," Navalny said in a tweet after Putin's speech.

"Putin has been in power for 20 years but he's going to run for the first time." 

More than 20,000 protesters took part in a rally on February 29 calling on Putin not to hold on to power and opposition groups on Tuesday quickly put in requests for permission for more demonstrations.

But so far there has not been an upswell of opposition to the reforms, with polls showing many Russian are confused about what the constitutional proposals entail. 

Observers had previously suggested that Putin could be looking to stay on in a behind-the-scenes role after 2024 as head of another state body.

'A stabilising factor'

But Dmitry Trenin, director of the Carnegie Moscow Center, said Tuesday's events made it clear Putin wanted to remain in charge.

"It looks that after playing with ideas of State Council and Security Council Putin has finally decided in favour of running again in 2024," Trenin said on Twitter.

"Putin intends to to govern us for at least two (more) terms ... Putin until 2036, it's unthinkable," said Ilia Azar, an opposition journalist.

Putin was re-elected to a fifth term in 2018 but his approval ratings have been slipping as Russia's economy struggles under the weight of Western sanctions and living standards fall.

The economy is set for more turbulence after oil prices crashed following the collapse of an output limits deal between Russia and Saudi Arabia. 

The value of the ruble and Russian stock exchanges have since tumbled. 

But in presenting the amendment that would annul previous presidential terms, cosmonaut-turned-politician Tereshkova said the possibility of Putin staying on would be reassuring.

"The very existence of such an opportunity for the incumbent president -- given his great authority -- is a stabilising factor for our society," she said.