Russia’s parliament yesterday overwhelmingly passed constitutional changes extending presidential terms, a move opponents suspect could lead to Prime Minister Vladimir Putin returning to the presidency.
The State Duma held a first reading on constitutional changes “relating to changing the term of office of the Russian president and of the State Duma.”
The changes, announced by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev earlier this month, would extend presidential terms from four years to six years.
Approval of the first ever changes to Russia’s 1993 Constitution requires the assent of both houses of parliament and of two-thirds of Russia’s regional assemblies.
The Duma waved through the proposals with little serious debate.
Second and third readings on the legislation could take place next week, Alexander Moskalets, a deputy on the Duma’s constitutional law committee, said on Thursday.
The changes have sparked speculation that Medvedev, who succeeded Putin in May, could use the pretext of constitutional changes to step down early and make way for a return to the post by his mentor.
Activists from the opposition Yabloko party mounted a small rally outside parliament, holding up a placard with a quote from Putin: “You should change brains, not the Constitution,” the Echo of Moscow radio station reported.
Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov has denied the changes would strengthen the presidency, saying “it should be seen as a balanced model for a new political construct.”
Heavy rain and strong winds yesterday disrupted flights, trains and ferries, forcing the closure of roads across large parts of New Zealand’s North Island, while snapping power links to tens of thousands. Domestic media reported a few flights had resumed operating by afternoon from the airport in Wellington, the capital, although cancelations were still widespread after airport authorities said most morning flights were disrupted. Air New Zealand said it hoped to resume services when conditions ease later yesterday, after it paused operations at Wellington, Napier and Palmerston North airports. Online images showed flooded semi-rural neighborhoods, inundated homes, trees fallen on vehicles and collapsed
FRAYED: Strains between the US-European ties have ruptured allies’ trust in Washington, but with time, that could be rebuilt, the Michigan governor said China is providing crucial support for Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and could end the war with a phone call, US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker said. “China could call [Russian President] Vladimir Putin and end this war tomorrow and cut off his dual-purpose technologies that they’re selling,” Whitaker said during a Friday panel at the Munich Security Conference. “China could stop buying Russian oil and gas.” “You know, this war is being completely enabled by China,” the US envoy added. Beijing and Moscow have forged an even tighter partnership since the start of the war, and Russia relies on China for critical parts
Two sitting Philippine senators have been identified as “coperpetrators” in former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte’s crimes against humanity trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC), documents released by prosecutors showed. Philippine senators Ronald Dela Rosa and Christopher Go are among eight current and former officials named in a document dated Feb. 13 and posted to the court’s Web site. ICC prosecutors have charged Duterte with three counts of crimes against humanity, alleging his involvement in at least 76 murders as part of his “war on drugs.” “Duterte and his coperpetrators shared a common plan or agreement to ‘neutralize’ alleged criminals in the Philippines
In a softly lit Shanghai bar, graduate student Helen Zhao stretched out both wrists to have her pulse taken — the first step to ordering the house special, a bespoke “health” cocktail based on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). “TCM bars” have popped up in several cities across China, epitomizing what the country’s stressed-out, time-poor youth refer to as “punk wellness,” or “wrecking yourself while saving yourself.” At Shanghai’s Niang Qing, a TCM doctor in a white coat diagnoses customers’ physical conditions based on the pulse readings, before a mixologist crafts custom drinks incorporating the herbs and roots prescribed for their ailments.
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