Russia's president Dmitry Medvedev has introduced a bill to the lower house of Russia’s parliament, the State Duma, to increase presidential and parliamentary terms. The proposal was made last week during Medvedev's State Of The Nation Address.
The changes would see the presidential term extended to six years after the next election, while the State Duma deputies would serve five. Both presidential and parliamentary terms are currently four years in Russia. Medvedev says the move is necessary to maintain stability and to help the country deal with massive global challenges. The president stressed that it is not a reform of the constitution, but just a correction. Vladimir Pligin, head of the Committee for Constitutional Legislation, said parliament’s lower chamber, the State Duma, may consider the bills as early as Friday, November 14.