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Russian MPs to vote on presidency Russian presidency under debate
(30 minutes later)
Russian MPs are set to debate and vote on a bill extending the presidential term - amid speculation it could herald the early return of Vladimir Putin. Russian MPs have begun to debate a bill extending the presidential term amid speculation it could herald the early return of Vladimir Putin.
Parliament, dominated by Putin allies, is considering the bill announced only last week by President Dmitry Medvedev. The bill was announced only last week by President Dmitry Medvedev and is being fast-tracked through parliament.
Mr Putin became prime minister this year after being obliged under the constitution to step down after two consecutive presidential terms.Mr Putin became prime minister this year after being obliged under the constitution to step down after two consecutive presidential terms.
But speculation is rife that he is planning to return to the presidency.But speculation is rife that he is planning to return to the presidency.
The BBC's Richard Galpin says it has always been assumed that Mr Putin may return after Mr Medvedev has completed one term.The BBC's Richard Galpin says it has always been assumed that Mr Putin may return after Mr Medvedev has completed one term.
But the apparent rush to get this measure through - it is being accelerated through parliament - is being seen by some as a sign that Mr Putin is in a hurry and may return much sooner. But the apparent rush to get this measure through is being seen by some as a sign that Mr Putin is in a hurry and may return much sooner.
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/default.stm">More from Today programme As for who will run for office and when, it's too early to talk about that now Vladimir PutinRussian prime minister
Then he could potentially serve another two six-year terms. Then he could potentially serve another two six-year terms. The bill also extends the mandate of the lower house, the State Duma, from four years to five.
The process of ratification is due to continue into next week.The process of ratification is due to continue into next week.
The bill must go before the upper house of parliament and regional assemblies before it becomes law. The bill must go through a second and third reading in the lower house, or State Duma, then be approved by the upper house and regional assemblies before it becomes law.
Economic fears Financial crisis
There is no doubt the bill will be approved quickly as the Kremlin's party, United Russia, controls all the assemblies.There is no doubt the bill will be approved quickly as the Kremlin's party, United Russia, controls all the assemblies.
The government insists the reform will only apply to the next president and it is needed because the existing four-year term is too short to implement serious reforms in such a huge country but the next election is not due until 2012. FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/default.stm">More from Today programme
One political analyst told the BBC that Mr Putin, who stood down as president in May, could now be planning to come back well before the next election and wants a longer term in office. The constitutional change will only apply to the next president and the government says it is needed because the existing four-year term is too short to implement serious reforms in such a huge country.
The word is that Mr Putin wants to be able to deal with the financial crisis which is beginning to hit Russia very hard, our correspondent reports. One political analyst told the BBC that Mr Putin, who stood down as president in May, could now be planning to come back well before the next election in 2012 and wants a longer term in office.
The word is that Mr Putin wants to be able to deal with the financial crisis, which is beginning to hit Russia very hard, our correspondent reports.
Speaking earlier this week, Mr Putin denied the bill was tailor-made to bring him back to office, saying the legislation was aimed at "fostering the development of democracy" in Russia and had "no personal dimension".
He pointed out that in Finland, for example, the presidential term was also six years while in France, it was seven.
"As for who will run for office and when, it's too early to talk about that now," he added.
Russia's constitution bars a president from serving more than two terms consecutively, but Mr Putin could be re-elected for a third term after his protege Mr Medvedev.
Vladimir Ryzhkov, a commentator and former opposition MP, theorised in a newspaper article on Friday how Mr Putin, who is still a hugely popular figure in Russia, could return to the Kremlin early.
"Using pretexts such as the new constitution and the need to strengthen the state in the face of the crisis, he might announce through Medvedev snap presidential and parliamentary elections as early as March or April," he wrote in the Moscow Times.