Voters in Russia have approved a package of constitutional reforms that includes opening the possibility that President Vladimir Putin can remain president until 2036.¯
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday the result was a œtriumph.
Opposition officials and independent election observers cast doubts on the legitimacy of the voting, which ended Wednesday, noting among other concerns that turnout seemed artificially high in some areas. œWe™ll never recognize this result, opposition politician Alexei Navalny said. Election officials said the voting was carried out with integrity.
The 67-year-old Putin has led Russia either as president or prime minister for more than two decades, and the reforms allow him to run for two more six-year terms after his current term runs out in 2024.
With most of the votes counted, election officials said voters had approved the package 77.9% to 21.3%.¯
Putin has said he will decide closer to 2024 as to whether he would run for another term. Also included in the constitutional reforms are protections for pensions and a de facto ban on same-sex marriages.
The voting took place over the course of a week so that polling places could minimize crowds due to coronavirus concerns.
Source : VOA
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