The nationwide vote on the proposed constitutional changes in Russia will be held on April 22. Still, the date might change if the coronavirus situation in the country deteriorates.
The decree setting the date for the upcoming vote was signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday. The citizens will be asked one simple question: ‘Do you support the constitutional changes?’
The package of constitutional amendments was tabled by Russia’s president in January and approved by the legislature earlier this month. The changes, among other things, envision empowering Russia’s Upper House, restricting the president’s time in office to two overall terms, and creating a new government body – the State Council.
The amendments also ‘reset’ the term count of the sitting president – effectively allowing Putin to run again in 2024. Such an addition, floated by MPs when they were considering the amendments, has created much controversy – and even prompted allegations that it was the true goal behind all the changes.
The vote on the amendments, however, might be postponed if the coronavirus epidemic spreads across Russia.
“Even considering all the importance of the constitutional changes, there’s nothing more important than health and lives of our compatriots,” Putin stressed.
So far, Russia has 114 confirmed cases of the disease and, luckily, no deaths. Thousands of people, who returned from coronavirus hotspot countries or had close contact with such individuals, remain quarantined and under medical surveillance.
