Federation Council Speaker For Prolonging Term Of Presidential Powers To Five Years

Sergei Mironov, chairman of the Federation Council (the upper chamber of Russian parliament), is as before for extending the term of presidential powers in Russia from the present four to five years. He said this to journalists in St.Petersburg on Wednesday. To Mironov, for a transitional period, in which Russia is now, the four years of presidential term of office is not enough for two reasons. First, in two years to come preparations for new elections are to begin. Second, in Russia elections to the State Duma (the lower parliamentary chamber) and presidential election actually coincide. "They should be staggered in time", insists Sergei Mironov. From his point of view, five years is quite acceptable for presidency. Already censured for his viewpoint, Sergei Mironov explained that he "has never said the term should be extended under the acting president". The transitional period in Russia can take several dozen years and as regards the presidential-term problem he has in mind future presidents of Russia.