Page 8 - ARUBA TODAY

A8 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 20 March 2018
After huge win, will Putin try to stay in power for life?

again. So he anointed loyal
associate Dmitry Medve-
dev as his approved can-
didate for president, and
Medvedev named Putin to
the post of prime minister,
where he continued to call
the shots for the next four
years.
While president, Medve-
dev changed the constitu-
tion to extend presidential
terms to six years instead of
four. That paved the way
for another 12 years of Pu-
tin after he returned to the
presidency in 2012.
When his new term expires
in 2024, Putin may find a
malleable successor and
create a new role for him-
self to keep running Russia
from behind the scenes.
Experts say Putin is keeping
all options open but prob-
ably won't make a decision
until midway through his
term.
He has insisted on respect-
ing the constitution, and
said Sunday night he has
no plans to change it —
"yet."
Whatever happens, he's
not likely to do away with
elections. Although he has
stifled serious opponents,
Putin likes elections be-
cause they give him dem-
Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures during a news conference after meeting with his staff at the campaign headquarters in ocratic legitimacy in the
Moscow, Russia, Sunday, March 18, 2018. Russian President Vladimir Putin has dodged a question about his plans after serving
another six-year term he has won. Putin wouldn't be eligible under the constitution to compete in the 2024 election since there is a West.
limit of two consecutive terms. He laughed off the option
(Sergei Chirikov/Pool photo via AP) of taking a six-year break
after 2024 before moving
MOSCOW (AP) — Now that Chinese leader Xi Jin- mer Soviet Union also have term limits, but he has both to reclaim the presidency
President Vladimir Putin ping recently managed guaranteed themselves houses of parliament at his in 2030. The 65-year-old
has overwhelmingly won it, scrapping term limits — lifetime presidencies. service to rubber stamp it. leader responded to a re-
re-election for another six and was among the first It wouldn't be that hard Putin has faced this ques- porter: "It's a bit ridiculous,
years, some are wondering world leaders to congratu- for Putin to follow suit. He tion before. In 2008, he had let's do the math. Shall I sit
whether he will try to stay in late Putin on his victory Sun- would have to change Rus- reached his limit of two four- here until I turn 100? No!"
power in Russia for life. day. Leaders across the for- sia's constitution to get rid of year terms and couldn't run q

German, Polish leaders discuss EU unity on sanctions, ex-spy

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — mission say that the talks the time it was putting Po- that our voice will be strong Significant information
German Chancellor An- were fruitful," Merkel said land on notice that it was if we have a strong alli- points to Russia's responsi-
gela Merkel said Monday following talks with Pol- at risk of contravening EU ance, if we act jointly," bility for the nerve agent
she would be pleased if Po- ish Prime Minister Mateusz law. However, the leaders Merkel said. attack and it's now up to
land's talks with the Europe- Morawiecki. of Poland and Germany Morawiecki and Merkel Moscow to prove it wasn't
an Union yielded a solution Morawiecki said there was said Monday that Europe also discussed Europe's re- involved, the German
to the standoff over the "light in the tunnel" but that needs unity to be strong. sponse to the poisoning in chancellor said.
country's rule of law record. an agreement to resolve They stressed agreement Britain this month of a Rus- Morawiecki said the entire
During a brief visit to War- the dispute over Poland's on issues such as economic sian ex-spy and his adult EU needs to give a firm re-
saw, Merkel said she was judicial system "requires un- cooperation and provid- daughter. sponse so "the Russian ag-
following the negotiations derstanding on both sides." ing more support to coun- Merkel said she expects gressor will know that it can-
to avert unprecedented EU The EU triggered a censure tries that have received the European Union leaders to not permit itself to attack a
sanctions over changes to procedure in December most migrants since a new reach "strong conclusions" NATO member state, an EU
Poland's judiciary pushed that could lead to poten- wave of mass immigration about the poisoning of Ser- member state."
by its conservative govern- tial sanctions over Poland's got underway in 2014-2015. gei Skripal and his daugh- Russia has rejected allega-
ment. "I would be pleased judicial overhaul. The Euro- "In the face of the global ter, Yulia, during a summit tions that it was behind the
to hear the European Com- pean Commission said at situation, we understand this week in Brussels. poisonings.q