State Duma passes bill on constitutional amendments

According to Tass Agency, Russian State Duma (lower house) has passed in the second, main reading the constitutional amendments bill, which sets a limit on presidential terms, extends parliamentary powers and cements state social guarantees, the priority of the Constitution over the international treaties and the status of Russian language as the language of the constituent people. The bill also stipulates nationwide vote on the amendments. A total of 382 lawmakers voted in favor of the bill, 44 abstained, no lawmakers opposed it. The first part of the bill involves amendments to Constitution chapters three to eight. The preamble as well as the first, second and ninth chapters of the basic law remain unchanged.

Russia’s State Duma (lower house of parliament) voted on Tuesday to approve the constitutional amendment submitted by lawmaker from the United Russia party Valentina Tereshkova on lifting restrictions on the number of presidential terms. According to the initiative, the amendment "applies to an individual who held and (or) holds the position of the Russian president, without taking into account the number of terms, during which he held and (or) holds this position at the time when the amendment to the Russian Constitution comes into force," and does not rule out an opportunity for him or her to hold the position of the head of state again.

Earlier on Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the lower house of parliament saying that lifting restrictions on the number of presidential terms was inexpedient. However, Putin said that he thought it possible to amend the Constitution that theoretically would enable him to run for another presidential term. However, in his words, such an amendment is to be assessed by the Constitutional Court.