Dec. 19, 2019 at 5:37 p.m. GMT+1
MOSCOW — Russian leader Vladimir Putin triggered a flurry of speculation Thursday when he suggested that
he was open to a constitutional change that would limit any president to no more than two terms.
In his traditional end-of-year news conference — lasting 4 hours and 19 minutes — Putin also came down on President Trump’s side in the impeachment process, said Russia would help China build an early-warning missile defense system and complained that an anti-doping body’s decision barring Russian athletes from international competitions was unfair.
But Putin’s remarks on the constitution generated the most interest. Were they a signal that Putin — who has effectively reigned since 2000 — would not try to seek office when his second presidential term expires in 2024?
Or did they suggest that he plans to run again, on the grounds of new rules and a new constitution?
Although Putin was reelected only last year, speculation has focused on whether he plans to cling to power at the end of his term or manage a transition designed to preserve his political legacy — for example, by maneuvering a reliable successor into power.
There seemed little doubt that Putin, choosing his words carefully, intentionally left his true meaning open to interpretation. But after the news conference, he said he had made the remarks off the top of his head in response to a question.
Putin earlier told 1,895 international and Russian journalists that it was possible there would be a move to change the constitution, to bar anyone from serving as president for more than two terms. The constitution currently prohibits people from serving more than two terms “consecutively.”
Many nations — including
China, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Uganda, Bolivia and Rwanda — have scrapped or altered presidential term limits. In 2015, Burundi’s Pierre Nkurunziza used the pretext of a new constitution to run for a third term, which led to protests and violence.
Putin served two terms from 2000 to 2008 and then swapped places with his prime minister, Dmitry Medvedev, who served one term. Medvedev was widely seen as a caretaker, enabling Putin to retain power behind the scenes. Then Putin took office again in 2012 and was reelected last year. Under the constitution, he cannot seek office again.
Journalists wait for President Vladimir Putin’s annual year-end news conference to start in Moscow on Dec. 19, 2019. (Alexei Druzhinin/AP)
After the news conference, Putin ruled out any hasty decision, adding, “One can’t make quick decisions here. The discussion is underway, and I will watch how it develops.”
Sergei Mironov leader of the State Duma faction A Just Russia, said Putin’s words indicated he would not seek reelection.
“The president believes the word ‘consecutive’ could be removed as regards the duration of stay in the post of president. In my view, this shows clearly that Vladimir Putin is not going to stay in this post after 2024,” Mironov told reporters Thursday.
Others viewed Putin’s remarks as a trial balloon, designed to test the waters on the possibility of extending his term.