Putin could remain in power until 2036

Putin could remain in power until 2036

Russia's Constitutional Court has ruled that it was legal to change the country's constitution in a way that could allow President Vladimir Putin to remain in power until 2036.

Joe Davies reports.

Russia's Vladimir Putin could remain in power for a long time to come.

It's because Russia's Constitutional Court ruled on Monday (March 16) that it was legal to change the constitution in a way that could allow Putin to stay as president until 2036.

The rule came less than a week after Putin publicly backed the idea.

It also came just hours after thousands of Russians signed a petition urging judges to protect them from what they said was an illegal coup that would allow Putin to subvert the constitution.

Putin, who has dominated the Russian political landscape for the last two decades, unveiled an overhaul of the constitution in January, which the Kremlin cast as a redistribution of power from the presidency to parliament.

He made a dramatic appearance in parliament on last Tuesday (March 10) to endorse a new amendment that would allow him to ignore a constitutional ban requiring him to stand down in four years' time.

The move must still be put to a nationwide vote due next month.

But it raises the prospect of Putin serving another two six-year terms after 2024.

The Kremlin, though, points out that Putin has not yet said whether he will run again.