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Putin suggests altering constitution to limit presidential term Putin suggests altering constitution to limit presidential term
(about 4 hours later)
MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin triggered a flurry of speculation Thursday when he raised the possibility of a constitutional change on presidential term limits, barring any individual from serving more than two terms. MOSCOW — Russian leader Vladimir Putin triggered a flurry of speculation Thursday when he suggested that he was open to a constitutional change that would limit any president to no more than two terms.
But what did Putin, who has effectively reigned since 2000, mean by his remarks in his annual marathon news conference? observers wondered. Was it a signal he would not try to seek office when his term expires in 2024? Or did it suggest that he plans to run again, on the grounds of new rules and a new constitution? In his traditional end-of-year news conference — lasting 4 hours and 19 minutes — Putin also came down on President Trump’s side in the impeachment process, said Russia would help China build an early-warning missile defense system and complained that an anti-doping body’s decision barring Russian athletes from international competitions was unfair.
Although Putin was reelected only last year, speculation has focused on whether Putin plans to leave office or manage a transition designed to preserve his political legacy, for example by maneuvering a reliable successor into power. But Putin’s remarks on the constitution generated the most interest. Were they a signal that Putin — who has effectively reigned since 2000 — would not try to seek office when his second presidential term expires in 2024? Or did they suggest that he plans to run again, on the grounds of new rules and a new constitution?
There seemed little doubt that Putin, choosing his words carefully, intentionally left his true meaning open to interpretation. Although Putin was reelected only last year, speculation has focused on whether he plans to cling to power at the end of his term or manage a transition designed to preserve his political legacy — for example, by maneuvering a reliable successor into power.
Putin told 1,895 international and Russian journalists that it was possible there would be a move to change the constitution to bar anyone from serving as president more than two terms, dropping the present provision that limits people from serving more than two terms “consecutively.” There seemed little doubt that Putin, choosing his words carefully, intentionally left his true meaning open to interpretation. But after the news conference, he said he had made the remarks off the top of his head in response to a question.
On one reading, this would prevent him from ever running again — unless he used the pretext of a new constitution and new rules to do so. Putin earlier told 1,895 international and Russian journalists that it was possible there would be a move to change the constitution, to bar anyone from serving as president for more than two terms. The constitution currently prohibits people from serving more than two terms “consecutively.”
Many nations — including China, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Uganda, Bolivia, Rwanda and others — have scrapped or altered presidential term limits. Burundi’s president, Pierre Nkurunziza, used the pretext of a new constitution to run for a third term, provoking furious protests and violence. Many nations — including China, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Uganda, Bolivia and Rwanda — have scrapped or altered presidential term limits. In 2015, Burundi’s Pierre Nkurunziza used the pretext of a new constitution to run for a third term, which led to protests and violence.
Putin served two terms from 2000 to 2008, when he swapped places with his prime minister, Dmitry Medvedev, who served one term. Medvedev was widely seen as a caretaker, enabling Putin to retain power behind the scenes. Then Putin took office again in 2012 and was reelected last year. Under the present constitution, he cannot seek office again. Putin served two terms from 2000 to 2008 and then swapped places with his prime minister, Dmitry Medvedev, who served one term. Medvedev was widely seen as a caretaker, enabling Putin to retain power behind the scenes. Then Putin took office again in 2012 and was reelected last year. Under the constitution, he cannot seek office again.
During the news conference, where many journalists shouted and waved signs in a bid to be chosen to ask questions, Putin complained that Russia was being treated unfairly — whether by U.S. legislators who have voted to impose sanctions on companies building a Russian gas pipeline to Germany, or by sporting authorities that have banned Russian athletes from international competitions. After the news conference, Putin ruled out any hasty decision, adding, “One can’t make quick decisions here. The discussion is underway, and I will watch how it develops.”
Putin also said the impeachment case against President Trump was a fabricated political effort by the Democrats to remove him from power — but he predicted it would fail because of the Republican Senate majority. Sergei Mironov leader of the State Duma faction A Just Russia, said Putin’s words indicated he would not seek reelection.
“The president believes the word ‘consecutive’ could be removed as regards the duration of stay in the post of president. In my view, this shows clearly that Vladimir Putin is not going to stay in this post after 2024,” Mironov told reporters Thursday.
Others viewed Putin’s remarks as a trial balloon, designed to test the waters on the possibility of extending his term.
During the news conference, Putin also said that the impeachment case against Trump was a political effort by the Democrats to remove him from power — but he predicted it would fail because of the Republican Senate majority.
Trump meets Russia’s top diplomat amid scrap over election interferenceTrump meets Russia’s top diplomat amid scrap over election interference
“It’s unlikely they will want to remove from power a representative of their party based on what are, in my opinion, completely fabricated reasons,” said Putin. “This is simply a continuation of the intra-political battle where one party that lost an election, the Democratic Party, is trying to achieve results using other methods and means.” “It’s unlikely they will want to remove from power a representative of their party based on what are, in my opinion, completely fabricated reasons,” Putin said. “This is simply a continuation of the intra-political battle where one party that lost an election, the Democratic Party, is trying to achieve results using other methods and means.”
He said the Democrats first accused Trump of colluding with Russia during the 2016 election campaign, when he denied there was any conspiracy. Then, he asserted, the Democrats dreamed up the idea that pressure had been exerted on Ukraine. He said the Democrats first accused Trump of colluding with Russia during the 2016 election campaign, though he denied there was any conspiracy. Then, Putin asserted, the Democrats dreamed up the idea that Trump had exerted pressure on Ukraine to advance his personal or political interests.
Putin warned that if the United States did not endorse a new strategic arms limitation treaty, the world would be plunged into a new arms race. And Putin complained that Russia was being treated unfairly on the world stage, whether by U.S. legislators who have voted to impose sanctions on companies building a Russian gas pipeline to Germany, or by sporting authorities that have banned Russian athletes from international competitions for four years.
Putin’s annual news conference, as usual, covered a sprawling range of topics from airfare prices for flights from the far east of the country to Moscow, garbage disposal, health care and climate change. He said he welcomed all questions, critical or not. Putin attacked the World Anti-Doping Agency’s ruling as an anti-competitive move designed to shut out Russian stars.
“I always welcome criticism. It always keeps us on our feet and provides food for thought. It makes us think twice about issues raised,” he said. “It’s not fair. It doesn’t make sense, and it runs counter to international law,” Putin said, adding that any punishment should be directed against individuals, not a national team. “If the vast majority of our athletes are clean, how can you slap a ban on them?”
Putin attacked a decision by the World Anti-Doping Agency to ban Russian athletes from major international competitions for four years, describing it as an anti-competitive move designed to shut out Russian stars. He said that Russia’s figures skaters were geniuses and that the measure seemed directed toward preventing them from winning.
“It’s not fair. It doesn’t make sense and it runs counter to international law,” Putin complained, adding that any punishment should be directed against individuals, not the nation’s athletes. “If the vast majority of our athletes are clean, how can you slap a ban on them?”
He said Russia’s figures skaters were geniuses and that the measure seemed directed to prevent them from winning.
“It’s an attempt to get rid of competition,” he said. “Yes, you can do it. Will it help world sport? No.”“It’s an attempt to get rid of competition,” he said. “Yes, you can do it. Will it help world sport? No.”
Putin warned that if the United States did not endorse a new Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty, the world would be plunged into a new arms race.
Putin’s annual news conference, as usual, spanned a gamut of topics, including prices for flights from the far east of the country to Moscow, garbage disposal, health care and climate change. He said he welcomed all questions, critical or not.
“I always welcome criticism. It always keeps us on our feet and provides food for thought. It makes us think twice about issues raised,” he said.
Russia calls Olympics ban ‘anti-Russia hysteria’ and politically motivatedRussia calls Olympics ban ‘anti-Russia hysteria’ and politically motivated
The annual news conference has been a Putin tradition every year of his presidency, closely watched as a barometer for Russian foreign and economic policy. The annual news conference has been a Putin tradition, closely watched as a barometer for Russian foreign and economic policy.
However, Putin does appear at other news conferences during the year — his last such appearance came last week in Paris after talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and with the French and German leaders, aimed at reviving a stalled peace deal in eastern Ukraine. However, Putin does appear at other news conferences during the year — his last such appearance was last week in Paris after talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and with the French and German leaders, aimed at reviving a stalled peace deal in eastern Ukraine.
This year’s news conference came amid souring U.S.-Russia relations, with Trump likely to sign a bill soon containing sanctions designed to block an important Russian gas pipeline to Germany. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee is advancing a separate bill this week that would impose tough new sanctions on Russia over its 2016 election interference, aggression against Ukraine and other actions. This year’s year-end news conference came amid souring U.S.-Russia relations, with Trump likely to sign a bill soon containing sanctions designed to block an important Russian gas pipeline to Germany. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee is advancing a separate bill this week that would impose tough new sanctions on Russia over its 2016 election interference, aggression against Ukraine and other actions.
Putin’s domestic approval rating remains high — around 68 percent in July, according to the Levada Center polling organization — but it has been gradually declining. Russia’s flat economy — with growth at around 1.2 percent, the World Bank reported — has fueled domestic discontent, along with unpopular moves last year to raise the retirement age and increase value-added taxes. Putin said the United States cooperated with Russia when it suited its purposes but imposed sanctions to hold Russia back. He warned that Russia would retaliate against any new sanctions, which he described as “completely hostile actions.”
Russia’s economy may be unimpressive, but Putin has amplified Russia’s global influence this past year, homing in on areas where U.S. influence has waned. Russia moved swiftly to fill a vacuum left by the withdrawal of U.S. troops from northern Syria. Putin fostered warm relations with Chinese President Xi Jinping amid the bitter U.S.-China trade war and has reached out to African leaders, hosting an October summit attended by 45 African heads of state and government in Sochi. Putin’s domestic approval rating remains high — around 68 percent in July, according to the Levada Center polling organization — but it has been gradually declining. Russia’s flat economy — with growth at around 1.2 percent, the World Bank reported — has fueled domestic discontent, as have unpopular moves last year to raise the retirement age and increase value-added taxes.
Russia’s economy may be unimpressive, but Putin has amplified Russia’s global influence this past year, homing in on areas where U.S. influence has waned. Russia moved swiftly to fill a vacuum left by the withdrawal of U.S. troops from northern Syria. Putin fostered warm relations with Chinese President Xi Jinping amid the bitter U.S.-China trade war and has reached out to African leaders, hosting an October summit attended by 45 African heads of state and government in Sochi.
Putin, Zelensky, Merkel join Macron in Paris for talks to end Ukraine warPutin, Zelensky, Merkel join Macron in Paris for talks to end Ukraine war
On Ukraine, he said he was alarmed by Zelensky’s calls for changes to agreements that form the basis of the peace talks. He denied that Russian troops were present in eastern Ukraine, where 13,000 people have died in war in the past five years.
The format of Thursday’s event was less a news conference than an opportunity for journalists from far-flung regions, often wearing national costumes, to put forward requests or raise hot issues affecting their regions.The format of Thursday’s event was less a news conference than an opportunity for journalists from far-flung regions, often wearing national costumes, to put forward requests or raise hot issues affecting their regions.
One from Bulgaria carried an icon. Another from Mordovia, a region east of Moscow, brought a gift of a local musical instrument, and a journalist from a Moscow suburb, Pavlovsky Posad, known for producing brightly colored shawls, held up a bright pink one depicting the president. A journalist from Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, told Russian television she was there to raise the matter of water supplies in the region. One from Bulgaria carried an icon. Another from Mordovia, a region east of Moscow, brought a gift of a local musical instrument, and a journalist from a Moscow suburb called Pavlovsky Posad, known for producing brightly colored shawls, held up a pink one depicting the president. A journalist from Crimea, annexed from Ukraine by Russia in 2014, told Russian television that she was there to raise the matter of water supplies in the region.
The first question was about climate change; Muscovites are confused about the lack of snow in the city, highly unusual for mid-December. Putin said Russia takes the problem of climate change seriously, citing record winter temperatures in Moscow, wildfires in Siberia and the threat of melting permafrost. But he said other nations were mainly to blame for pollution.
“Russia is not one of the biggest polluters, according to the U.N.,” Putin said, pointing to the United States, China and the European Union as the main culprits. He said no one knew the reason for increasing temperatures.
“If the permafrost starts to melt down, you can think for yourself what the consequences could be,” he said. “We will continue to take action to make sure that we minimize the consequences from these changes.”
He also called for more dialogue with local communities about garbage landfills, a hot issue in Russia that has sparked protests in parts of the country.
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