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Dec 22, 2008, 8:10 GMT

Bill for longer Kremlin term approved in final legislative step

Moscow - A Kremlin bill proposing a longer presidential term was overwhelmingly approved by Russia's upper house of parliament on Monday, in the final legislative step of amendment to Russia's constitution. The bill extending the presidential term from four to six years was endorsed by all 142 members of the Federation Council, Russian news agencies reported. 'We will submit the resolution for signing to the president,' Federation Council Speaker Sergei Mironov said as the house passed the resolution. The amendment, the first to Russia's 15-year-old constitution, will become law once signed by President Dmitry Medvedev. All of Russia's regional legislatures last week backed the bill as did both houses of parliament in votes last month. The bill will also lengthen the term in office for deputies of Russia's lower house, the State Duma. The Kremlin says the bill would allow the government to carry out its reforms more effectively. But analysts speculate that the amendment - and the haste with which it was fast-tracked through the legislative process - prepares for Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's return to the Kremlin. Putin, constitutionally barred from a third consecutive term, ceded the office to Mevedev, his handpicked successor, in May. He has not ruled out what could now be another 12-year turn as president. He supported the term extensions, but called it 'premature' to say who they might benefit.

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