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| Russian law change may help Putin | Russian law change may help Putin |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A senior Russian lawmaker has proposed changing the constitution, in a move that might allow President Vladimir Putin to stay in power longer. | A senior Russian lawmaker has proposed changing the constitution, in a move that might allow President Vladimir Putin to stay in power longer. |
| The Federation Council Speaker, Sergei Mironov, said that instead of four years the presidential term should be extended to "five, or maybe seven". | The Federation Council Speaker, Sergei Mironov, said that instead of four years the presidential term should be extended to "five, or maybe seven". |
| He also argued against the two-term limit for the Russian president. | He also argued against the two-term limit for the Russian president. |
| Under the current rules Mr Putin will have to step down in 2008, after having served two terms. | Under the current rules Mr Putin will have to step down in 2008, after having served two terms. |
| Mr Putin has made it clear that he is not planning to seek a third term - despite calls from various politicians and organisations for him to do so. | |
| But Mr Mironov, speaking immediately after his re-election as Speaker of the upper house, said the constitutional amendment proposal should be discussed by lawmakers throughout Russia and then put to Mr Putin for approval. | |
| Mr Mironov has been Speaker since January 2003. He represents the St Petersburg assembly - the city where Mr Putin also launched his political career. |