Russians are set to approve constitutional reforms on Wednesday denounced by critics as a manoeuvre to allow President Vladimir Putin to stay in the Kremlin for life. The changes were passed weeks ago by Russia’s parliament and copies of the new constitution are already on sale in bookshops, but Putin pushed ahead with a nationwide vote that ends Wednesday to confer legitimacy on his plans. There is little doubt the reforms – which include patriotic and populist measures like guaranteed minimum pensions and an effective ban on gay marriage – will be approved. A state-run exit poll of more than 163,000 voters this week showed 76 percent in favour. Results are expected to be announced after the last polling stations close at 1800 GMT.
Putin says the changes are needed to ensure stability and cement Russian values in the face of pernicious Western influences. Many Russians, especially those who remember the chaos and economic turmoil of the 1990s, agree. But critics say the reforms are a cover for Putin to extend his rule after nearly 20 years in power.
Putin’s approval rating has suffered in recent months, in part over early mistakes in the government’s handling of the coronavirus crisis, and stood at a historic low of 59 percent in one May poll. Analysts say Putin wanted to get the vote over with before Russians – already suffering from several years of falling incomes – are hit by the full economic impact of the pandemic.
The other political reforms amount to a tweaking of Russia’s system of government. The president is granted some new powers including the right to nominate top judges and prosecutors, while parliament has more influence in naming senior government officials. Russian law is given precedence over international law and top officials are banned from having foreign citizenship or residence permits. The minimum wage cannot be below the subsistence level and state pensions must be indexed to inflation. The reforms also enshrine “faith in God” and Russian as the national language in the constitution, define marriage as between a man and a woman and ban giving away Russian territory or questioning the country’s “historical truth”.
Source: Digital Journal
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