Putin rejects any constitutional change allowing third presidential term News
Putin rejects any constitutional change allowing third presidential term

[JURIST] Russian President Vladimir Putin [official website, English version] has said he will not make an exception to the Russian Constitution [text] or other laws in order to pursue a third term [JURIST news archive] for himself in the scheduled 2008 Russian election. In a transcript [text, in Russian] posted on the Kremlin's website Tuesday, Putin was quoted as acknowledging public polls indicating that the people of Russia [JURIST news archive] want internal stability, but said this could not be accomplished through the continued presence of one person, suggesting instead that adherence to the constitution by everyone, including himself, would be better for society.

Putin made his remarks during a meeting with members of the Valdai Discussion Club [group website] last week. The club brings together Russian affairs experts and leaders of main foreign policy and research think tanks. Itar-Tass has more.