CHEBOKSARY, 5 February. /RIA Novosti/. Vladimir Putin spoke against extension of the presidential term.
At a press conference in Cheboksary Putin stated that "his attitude towards that idea was negative." The head of state stressed that "we should do our utmost to retain inviolability of the constitution as it guarantees stable development".
At the same time the President stated that "he understood why people were coming up with such an initiative." The President added that it was aimed at creation such conditions for the country when citizens "would perceive their stable position and stable development along the major policy lines defined by the President and supported by the majority of the population." While explaining his position Vladimir Putin pointed out that "there were circumstances that would not permit supporting that initiative as aspiration for stability would be achieved through destabilization of the foundations, the constitution, that guaranteed stability." The head of the state stressed that "they were to do everything to ensure inviolability of the constitution to make the country develop on the basis of constitutional provisions adopted several years ago and which were quite sufficient (for development of the country)." On Thursday the State Duma council decided to accept for consideration the legislative initiative of deputies of the Ivanovo region to extend Russian presidential term to 7 years. The draft law "On Amendments to the Russian Constitution to Amend the Russian Presidential Term" will be considered by deputies in February.
