Russian legislators to consider amendment -allow 3rd term for Putin

[dogday]

Anyone Else Seeing Similarities Between Russia and U. S.?


MOSCOW (AP) - Legislators are considering an electoral amendment next week that could open the way for Russian President Vladimir Putin to run for a third term, prompting the opposition to accuse his supporters of trying to cling to power.

Putin has repeatedly said he will not change the constitution, which bars presidents from serving more than two consecutive terms.

But a senior member of his United Russia party submitted a legislative amendment Thursday that would allow Putin to stand for re-election if he stepped down before the end of his second term ends in March 2008, and if the next presidential poll held without his participation is declared invalid - for example, because of low turnout.

The legislator, Alexander Moskalets, deputy head of the lower house's constitutional legislation committee, declined to comment on the initiative, which was part of a package of electoral legislation to be voted on in its second reading Wednesday.

http://www.cbc.ca/cp/world/050624/w062496.html

[mpanno]

1. How much do ya wanna bet

that shrub will try to amend the constitution in order to get a third term?