In March 2020, Russia’s parliament approved drastic reforms to the Russian constitution that would allow President Putin to remain in office until 2036. Currently, Russia’s constitution limits a president to two six-year terms in office. President Putin has nonetheless managed to maintain power for more than twenty years by switching positions with ally Dmitry Medvedev and assuming the role of prime minister, serving in this position from 2008 to 2012 before being reelected to the presidency first in 2012, and again in 2018.
While the reform does not alter existing term limits, it would reset to zero the number of President Putin’s presidential terms, allowing him to serve an additional twelve years after his current term ends in 2024. In addition to the “reset to zero” proposal, the proposed amendments include a prohibition on same-sex marriage, and restructure the balance of power within Russia’s government, heavily favoring the executive. The measure still has to be approved by Russia's Constitutional Court before being put to a nationwide vote.
Critics of the Kremlin have called for protests, raising the risk of political unrest in the country. Click here to read our insight on the risk of political unrest in 2020.
