Russian President Vladimir Putin laid out a path Tuesday to staying in power beyond 2024, as lawmakers approved sweeping reforms to the constitution.
In a surprise address to the lower house State Duma, Putin said there could be a presidential "reset" allowing him to run after his current term expires.
"This would be possible... if the constitutional court rules such an amendment would not go against (the constitution)," he said.
I'm going out on a limb to say that the Russian constitutional court won't object.
And I'm amazed that anybody had to be told twice, quite frankly:
Russia's parliamentary head told lawmakers on Thursday to rally behind Vladimir Putin against what he said was a foreign campaign to discredit constitutional reforms that could allow the president to stay in power until 2036.
So there you go. Just "reset" term limits. It's so simple it is obvious in retrospect, no? That does make it far less dramatic than some scenarios.
Anyway, thank God that drama is settled. The suspense was killing me.
UPDATE: Yeah:
Amid a coronavirus pandemic and looming global economic crisis, Russian President Vladimir Putin has suddenly revealed how he intends to remain in power beyond 2024, when what should be his final term in office ends. In doing so, Putin seems to have bet – not incorrectly – that there is simply no one who can stop him.
Nobody and no document will stop Putin from ruling the country he is wrecking.
When enough people notice how much Putin is effing up royally, maybe Putin can be stopped short of peacefully dying of old age in his bed at night in the Kremlin.
UPDATE: Putin actually had to formally "ask" the constitutional court if it is okay to change the rules?
Russian President Vladimir Putin has formally asked the country's constitutional court if it is legal for him to change the constitution, the Kremlin said on Saturday, a move that could allow him to remain in power until 2036.
Again, I'm not seeing any chance of a negative answer to that question.
UPDATE: And what do you know?
Russia's Constitutional Court on Monday approved a law on constitutional amendments that could allow Vladimir Putin to remain in power for another 16 years.
The law still must be approved in a national referendum that has been scheduled for April 22. The court's approval came just two days after Putin signed the law.
Oh how will that vote work out? The suspense is killing me.
UPDATE: Vodkapundit:
[The Russian parliament] unanimously approved Putin's constitutional amendment that somehow makes Putin's current two terms null and void. The Constitutional Court approved the measure, and the people will vote Da on it overwhelmingly in a totes free & fair election next month. I feel very confident about predicting the outcome, if not the actual "free & fair" part.
What that means is, Putin will be eligible for re-re-reelection as the incumbent for an office he never held.
I'm assured this makes more sense in the original Russian.
The suspense is killing me.
