Removing Word "consecutive" From Constitution Will Be Useful "in About 13 Years" — Yabloko Leader
Interfax - 4.11.12 - JRL 2012-68
MOSCOW. April 11 (Interfax) - Sergei Mitrokhin, leader of the party Yabloko, believes the proposal to remove from the Constitution the word combination "two consecutive presidential terms," which has been backed by Vladimir Putin, will be useful, but only in the long-range perspective.
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"I think Putin realizes that he can't be president for more than two terms, especially with a six years' interval, and therefore he is calm about it. However, this amendment will generally be useful, but only in the long-range perspective," Mitrokhin told Interfax.
The opposition activist said would find it logical if Putin had said he would not run for president again after backing the proposal to limit the number of presidential terms.
"If Putin follows the spirit of this amendment and refuses to run again after the upcoming term, it will be logical," Mitrokhin said.
In the meantime, Boris Nemtsov, co-chairman of the unregistered People's Freedom Party (PARNAS), said he doubts the sincerity of Putin's words on the possibility of the word "consecutive" being removed from the provision of the Constitution dealing with the number of presidential terms.
"If he really thinks so, he should not have run again. It's obvious hypocrisy," Nemtsov told Interfax on Wednesday.
"However, if he said so, deputies should urgently propose an appropriate amendment to the law. We will support that if they do so before the president's inauguration," he said.
"If they don't do it, it means it's all lies and hypocrisy," Nemtsov said.
Keywords: Russia, Government, Politics - Russian News - Russia
MOSCOW. April 11 (Interfax) - Sergei Mitrokhin, leader of the party Yabloko, believes the proposal to remove from the Constitution the word combination "two consecutive presidential terms," which has been backed by Vladimir Putin, will be useful, but only in the long-range perspective.
file photo
"I think Putin realizes that he can't be president for more than two terms, especially with a six years' interval, and therefore he is calm about it. However, this amendment will generally be useful, but only in the long-range perspective," Mitrokhin told Interfax.
The opposition activist said would find it logical if Putin had said he would not run for president again after backing the proposal to limit the number of presidential terms.
"If Putin follows the spirit of this amendment and refuses to run again after the upcoming term, it will be log