Russia's ruling party says it would back an amendment to the constitution that would allow Vladimir Putin to stay on as president until at least 2036, if he decided to pursue such a motion.
Adam Reed reports.
He's been in power for two decades and now Vladimir Putin could have the means to remain as Russian president for as many as 12 more years.
Putin addressed the lower house of parliament on Tuesday (March 10), saying he believed a constitutional amendment that would allow him to run for president again could be adopted if Russia's Constitutional Court did not object.
He is currently required by the constitution to step down in 2024 when this latest two-term period comes to an end.
(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING: "Technically, today we could lift the term limits, especially because such precedents exist in other countries, including our neighbors.
There are no term limits (there) in the election procedure of a head of state." Putin unveiled a major shake-up of Russian politics and a constitutional overhaul in January.
Critics have accused him of plotting to use constitution changes to extend his rule beyond 2024.
His appearance on Tuesday came after a lawmaker from the ruling United Russia party told parliament that she would propose an amendment to reset Putin's presidential term count back to zero.
The move, if adopted and backed in a nationwide vote, would allow him to stay in office until 2036.
Putin himself appeared to voice his own reservations at the constitutional change.
(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING: "In principle, this option would be possible, but on one condition - if the constitutional court gives an official ruling that such an amendment would not contradict the principles and main provisions of the constitution." Another ruling party lawmaker on Tuesday proposed holding snap parliamentary elections, currently scheduled for September 2021, once the constitutional reform was out of the way.
Putin was cool to that idea however, saying he saw no need to for snap elections if there were no disagreements in parliament.
Russia's Constitutional Court has ruled that it was legal to change the country's constitution in a way that..
