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| Russian MPs back presidency move | Russian MPs back presidency move |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Russian MPs have backed a bill extending the presidential term in its first reading, amid speculation it may herald Vladimir Putin's early return. | Russian MPs have backed a bill extending the presidential term in its first reading, amid speculation it may herald Vladimir Putin's early return. |
| The bill was announced only last week by President Dmitry Medvedev and is being fast-tracked through parliament. | 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 constitutional amendment through 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 constitutional amendment through is being seen by some as a sign that Mr Putin is in a hurry and may return much sooner. |
| As for who will run for office and when, it's too early to talk about that now Vladimir PutinRussian prime minister | 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. The bill also extends the mandate of the lower house, the State Duma, from four years to five. | 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 Duma passed the bill in its first reading on Friday by 388 votes to 58. | |
| The bill must go through a second and third reading in the Duma, then be approved by the upper house and regional assemblies before it becomes law. | The bill must go through a second and third reading in the Duma, then be approved by the upper house and regional assemblies before it becomes law. |
| Financial crisis | 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. |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme |
| 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 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. |
| 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. | 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. | 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". | 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. | 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. | "As for who will run for office and when, it's too early to talk about that now," he added. |
| 'Spring election' | 'Spring election' |
| The Communist opposition in the Duma attempted unsuccessfully to have the constitutional amendments bill removed from the agenda, arguing that there was no reason to make the changes now, given that the next election was not until 2012. | The Communist opposition in the Duma attempted unsuccessfully to have the constitutional amendments bill removed from the agenda, arguing that there was no reason to make the changes now, given that the next election was not until 2012. |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | "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. |