Russian loophole offers Putin chance of third term

[tekisui]

MOSCOW, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin could run for re-election in next year's presidential vote if he resigns early to get around a ban on serving three consecutive terms, a lobbyist close to the Kremlin has said.

Putin has said he will step down next year and let someone else take over. His spokesman said that has not changed. But a source with Kremlin links told Reuters the option of exploiting legal loopholes is being pushed by parts of his entourage.

Under that scenario, Putin could announce as early as this month that he is stepping down ahead of term. His prime minister, Viktor Zubkov, would become caretaker president and Putin would run in the scheduled March 2008 presidential vote.
The question of what Putin will do next is preoccupying Russians and foreign investors because he wields huge personal power in his vast, nuclear-armed country, many people see him as a guarantor of stability and he has no clear successor.

(snip)

"It is quite possible for Putin to run as a candidate for the presidency in the 2008 elections," Alexander Shokhin, the head of Russia's biggest business lobby, told Russia's Itogi magazine this week.
"And there is no need to change the constitution," he said. "Gaps remain in the law."
Russia's constitution states that "one and the same person cannot occupy the post of President of the Russian Federation for more than two consecutive terms."
Analysts have speculated Putin could sidestep this by making way for a new president and returning at the next election in 2012, or sooner if his successor does not serve a full term.
Another option is for him to step down but retain influence in another capacity, possibly as prime minister.

(snip)

Analysts said the new scenario was most likely floated in the media by one of the rival groups in Putin's entourage. They say ultimately, only Putin knows what will happen over the next few weeks and he has been giving little away.

link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/feedarticle?id=7082279

[zabet]

1. Whoa!!

I bet that pisses off chimpy! First, Musharaff gets to
test run Martial Law before chimpy and now, his buddy
Pooty-poot gets to run for a 3rd term. :P

[tekisui]

2. So many options---which way will we go?

[zabet]

3. I predict a

temper tantrum by chimpy any day now. He already
needs to go to the corner for time out for playing
partisan politics by blaming all his woes on the
Dem Congress.

[Javaman]

4. Yeah, loophole...

:eyes: