First Deputy Prime Minister Sergey Ivanov thinks the presidential term should be lengthened. It doesn't concern Dmitry Medvedev.
Photo: ИТАР-ТАСС, ИТАР-ТАСС
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Sergey Ivanov Favors Longer Pres. Term
First Deputy Prime Minister Sergey Ivanov has expressed his support for lengthening the time between parliamentary and presidential elections by lengthening the presidential term. Parliamentary and presidential elections have occurred in Russia within a three-month period of each other since 2000, when the presidential election was held early due to the resignation of Boris Yeltsin. The presidential administration calls Ivanov's statement, made in Izvestia newspaper, “his personal opinion.” He had not expressed an opinion on that issue before.
Speaker of the Federation Council Sergey Mironov has long been a vocal proponent of lengthening the presidential term of office. He has spoken in favor of extending the presidential term to five or even seven years, saying that it would free the head of state from campaign as often and given him greater opportunities to institute his political and economic policies. Mironov stated earlier this year that his party, Just Russia, was preparing to introduce a amendment to change the Russian Constitution to that effect.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking of the presidential term of office, told journalists last June that “five, six or seven years is fully acceptable for today's Russia.” He said at the same time that supported limits on the number of terms one president could serve.
The length of the presidential term is written into the Constitution and can only be changed by an amendment to it, which must be approved by two-thirds of the State Duma, three-quarters of the Federation Council and two-thirds of the subjects of the federation. The amendment would take effect after the following presidential election.
www.kommersant.ru
All the Article in Russian as of Mar. 25, 2008
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