By REUTERS<\/p>\n
Vladimir Putin could become Russia’s ‘Supreme Ruler’ when he steps down as president under proposed changes to the country’s constitution, it emerged today.<\/p>\n
The Kremlin confirmed that the new title was one of several proposals but played down its significance claiming Putin ‘has no view’ on it.<\/p>\n
The proposal was put forward by a government commission looking into constitutional changes widely seen as a bid by Putin to ‘rule for life’ after his presidency ends in 2024.<\/p>\n
Putin has already announced sweeping changes to the constitution that were passed by parliament earlier this month.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\nRussia’s President Vladimir Putin\u00a0submitted the amendments to the State Duma, Russia’s lower house of parliament, on Monday, just days after presenting them in the annual state-of-the-nation address last week<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The overhaul, which triggered a change in government, also cemented Putin’s control of the transition process and was seen by some as an attempt to reduce intra-clan infighting between now and 2024, while allowing Putin to show he is responding to public discontent after years of belt-tightening.<\/p>\n
The State Duma, the Russian lower house of parliament, has already given its backing to his reforms in a preliminary vote.<\/p>\n
The government commission is considering further possible changes.<\/p>\n
‘There are… some very curious proposals among those put forward.<\/p>\n
‘For instance, they proposed renaming the position of head of state to “Supreme leader”,’ Pavel Krasheninnikov, the government commission’s co-chair, told the Rossiiskaya Gazeta government newspaper.<\/p>\n
When asked about the idea on Wednesday, the Kremlin was non-committal, calling it a ‘new initiative’ and one of various proposals that may or may not be implemented.<\/p>\n
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