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Putin forced to delay key vote to reset presidential term limits due to Covid-19 Putin forced to delay key vote to reset presidential term limits due to Covid-19
(about 1 hour later)
The planned national vote on constitutional amendments in Russia will be postponed from April to a later date, President Vladimir Putin said, citing the threat of Covid-19. He also declared the next work week a holiday. The planned national vote on constitutional amendments in Russia will be postponed from April to a later date, President Vladimir Putin said, citing the threat of Covid-19.
Speaking in a televised address on Wednesday, Putin announced a number of measures to support the Russian people during the increasingly serious threat of coronavirus in the country.Speaking in a televised address on Wednesday, Putin announced a number of measures to support the Russian people during the increasingly serious threat of coronavirus in the country.
The Russian government will postpone the vote on the constitution, which was scheduled for April 22. There will also be special payments to support people whose livelihoods have been affected by the epidemic, whether due to health problems or the economic slowdown it has caused. The Russian government will postpone the vote on the constitution, which was scheduled for April 22. The changes involve, among other things, empowering Russia’s Upper House, creating a new government body – the State Council – and restricting all future presidents’ time in office to two overall terms.
The measures also include tax breaks for small and medium-sized business owners, the suspension of credit payments for individuals who are unable to pay due to loss of income, and changes in how personal bankruptcy is done in Russia. At the same time, the amendments also ‘reset’ the term count for the sitting president – if adopted, this will allow Putin to run again in 2024. The provision was introduced by MPs while they debated the amendments.
The president called on all Russians to take the situation seriously and follow the instructions of health officials and other authorities, as the wellbeing of many people, especially the elderly who are especially vulnerable to the disease, depends on it.The president called on all Russians to take the situation seriously and follow the instructions of health officials and other authorities, as the wellbeing of many people, especially the elderly who are especially vulnerable to the disease, depends on it.
Another drastic measure announced by President Putin is a significant hike on dividends transferred out of the country by large companies and their owners. Russia will have to coordinate this change with foreign nations to avoid double taxation, but it could be done unilaterally if necessary, he said.
Taxing revenues from equities will be another source of funding for all the spending the government plans in order to mitigate the crisis.
“All the measures that have been and will be taken will work, produce a result as long as we show solidarity, understanding of the difficulty of the current situation,” Putin said. “If the state, the society, the citizens act together. If everyone does everything possible.”“All the measures that have been and will be taken will work, produce a result as long as we show solidarity, understanding of the difficulty of the current situation,” Putin said. “If the state, the society, the citizens act together. If everyone does everything possible.”
Russia has so far been largely spared by the Covid-19 pandemic. It currently has 658 cases of the disease, but that number jumped by 163 in one day, fueling concerns that an explosive increase in positive tests may happen within days.Russia has so far been largely spared by the Covid-19 pandemic. It currently has 658 cases of the disease, but that number jumped by 163 in one day, fueling concerns that an explosive increase in positive tests may happen within days.
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