Putin backs two-term cap for presidents other than himself

Vladimir Putin has indicated he would back a law that bars others from doing what he did, ruling as Russia’s president more than twice.

But Mr Putin also suggested such a law would not apply to himself, leaving open the possibility that he could run for a fourth presidential term in 2018.

The Russian Constitution now bars a person from being president for more than two consecutive terms. Mr Putin was Russia’s president from 2000 to 2008 – in two four-year terms – but had to step down to avoid the issue of consecutive terms. He did not step far away, becoming the country’s prime minister and remaining Russia’s most powerful leader despite the title change.

But because of that “consecutive” clause, Mr Putin was able to run for a third term in the March presidential vote. He won amid an unprecedented wave of street protests stemming from allegations of widespread vote rigging in December’s parliamentary election and will be sworn in on 7 May.

In addition, while Mr Putin was prime minister, his placeholder, Dmitry Medvedev, pushed a law through parliament changing the presidential term from four to six years, so Mr Putin will now rule until 2018.

Yesterday, in his last address to parliament as prime minister before his return to the Kremlin next month, Mr Putin said it would be “reasonable” to remove the mention of consecutive terms. But he added that this would not affect him because such a legislation cannot be retroactive – implying that his third term would considered his first term under the new law.

“Once it’s passed, I will have a chance to work for the next two terms. There’s no problem here,” he said in televised remarks.When the prime minister was asked shortly before the March vote whether he thought it was ethical of him to run for a third term, Mr Putin said he saw no reason not to run because the law allowed it.

Mr Putin also urged his opponents to bury their differences with him for the sake of Russia’s economic and political future after months of protests and elections that divided the country.

Yet, the 59-year-old leader, who for many years faced little overt criticism, could hardly keep his temper when challenged over meat production, raising his voice and pointing angrily at a deputy who interrupted him during questions after a one-and-a-half-hour speech hailing the achievements of his four years in government.

“We have one Russia, and its modern, advanced development must be the goal that unites all the country’s political forces that want to work to build it,” Mr Putin told the Duma to occasional bursts of applause during a session lasting nearly four hours. His speech was delivered unsmilingly from a podium to rows of seated deputies.