- It’s been an overwhelming vote by Russians for the constitutional changes (78%). Interestingly, few people are saying these results are rigged, even those who are usually hostile. It’s accepted as a reflection of what Russians feel. The turnout was high. Only one region in the East voted against it.
- Term limits: 2 consecutive terms still remain to the presidency. So Putin is still allowed to run for 2 more, but he will have to leave by 2036. This amendment is to allow Putin to run again, by disregarding his previous terms. Should constitutional documents be based on one person? Russia is still not a country that has achieved full power and stability – that is the reasoning behind it. But you can always produce such arguments. Around Russia, however, Putin still has a great deal of support. Plus, there is an overriding fear among Russians of all ages and classes about instability, which is reasonable in terms of Russia’s recent history. People are afraid of political instability; Putin is seen as a guarantee against this.
- The constitutional changes rearrange the power structure, making the president’s office less powerful and the parliament more so. The advisory council, where policy is worked out, is being made part of the constitutional structure and given a greater role. Overall, there is a devolution of power away from the presidency – but not while Putin remains in power, most likely, as he’s too powerful. But in the long run, it will create a more diverse political system that will have to work much more through consensus than presidential power.
- The amendments overall form a statement about what kind of country Russian people want. There is a reference to the Russian people for the first time, and a reference to God. And Russia is established as a successor state to the Soviet Union, where Russian history is accepted. Compare that to the toppling of statues in the US. The constitution also contains statements about social policy: marriage as a union of a man and woman. Russian laws and the constitution also take priority over international laws – this is very important. It implicates the European Convention on Human Rights, which now cannot take precedent over Russian sovereignty and its constitution. There are also economic provisions for supporting families. So the totality of Russian beliefs, culture and laws are accepted in this document and put above the interests of outside international globalist institutions. It’s a re-sovereigntization of Russia. It’s the diametric opposite of what certain western leaders want for their countries.
- The constitution is a way of exiting the Western neoliberal, globalist system. The recent building of a military cathedral dedicated to the Russian military is a symbol of this (see image), which was built in a
traditional architectural style. The Russian church and constitution must be understood as part of the same thing. - How much did the madness in the US and UK in terms of riots and statue-toppling play in this vote? Or the madness of NATO against Russia? It played a large role because Russians are very aware of these events. Russian internet is quite open and they don’t like what they’re seeing, including in Ukraine.
- Predictably, the MSM focused their reporting around Putin, not on what the Russian people think and why. They don’t question why Putin’s support is strong.
- This vote does give another mandate to Putin. We can have mixed feelings about this, but ultimately it’s a Russian decision and the desire for stability in today’s world is understandable.
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78% of Russians vote to break away from western neoliberal dogma (Video)
The Duran Quick Take: Episode 584
ALEX CHRISTOFOROU
The Duran’s Alex Christoforou and Editor-in-Chief Alexander Mercouris discuss the results of the Russian vote on constitutional amendments.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on Thursday that the result was a clear sign of the Russian people’s trust in president Putin.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked Russians on Thursday for taking part in the vote on constitutional amendments.
“I want to express my gratitude to the Russian citizens, I want to say thank you very much for your support and trust,” Putin said at a meeting of the Pobeda (Victory) organising committee.
Russia’s political system and the economy are still at the formative stage since not so much time has passed since the collapse of the Soviet Union, “by historical standards,” the president added, stressing that time is needed to strengthen the national stability.
“I understand the citizens who have voted against. Many problems remain unsolved, this is true. People often face injustice, unkindness and indifference. Many people face hardships, and we, the government, often think we are doing everything possible, while this is not exactly so … We often fall short of our targets, we should more quickly, precisely and efficiently,” Putin said.
According to Russia’s Central Election Commission, 77.92 percent of Russians supported the amendments, 21.27 percent voted against them, and the turnout totalled 67.97 percent.
The nationwide vote on constitutional amendments was originally planned for April 22 but had to be postponed over the threat of COVID-19. It was later officially scheduled for July 1 with six additional voting days to avoid the spread of the disease.
Russia’s Constitutional Changes
Russian President Vladimir Putin offered important changes to the constitution in his address to the parliament in mid-January. After both chambers of the Russian parliament passed the bill, an all-Russian vote on the amendments had to take place.
The nationwide vote on constitutional amendments was originally planned for 22 April, but had to be postponed due to the threat of COVID-19. It took place 1 July, with six additional voting days to avoid the spread of the disease.
The amendments are a sweeping set of changes to Russia’s basic law, which include protecting the institution of marriage as the union of a man and a woman, setting children as a priority of Russia’s domestic policy, and many others. The previous version of the constitution was adopted by nationwide voting on 12 December 1993 after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Former Russian President Boris Yeltsin imposed the 1993 constitution literally at gunpoint, after he sent tanks to shell the parliament.
The proposed changes include:
- Social and Economic Reform
One of the most longed-for amendments among the Russian population was the one that would “match minimum wage with the minimum standard cost of living”, which in Russia is calculated by the sum of baseline monthly utility bills, as well as grocery and essential non-food expenses.
With regard to pensions, the amendments provide for an annual indexation to keep payments compatible with inflation rates. The indexation will also be applied to social benefit payments.
The new constitution includes an amendment about protecting the institution of marriage as the union of a man and a woman, setting children as a priority in the country’s domestic policy, and an obligation to support and protect the culture as the unique heritage of Russia’s multi-ethnic people.
- National Identity Reform
”The Russian Federation honours the memory of defenders of the Fatherland and protects historical truth. Diminishing the significance of the people’s heroism in defending the Fatherland is not permitted”, the text of the new law says.
The proposed changes also aim to protect Russia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, prohibiting any attempts or calls to alienate part of its territory.
Another amendment establishes the status of the Russian language as the language of a nation-forming nation.
- Power Reform
The amendments envision a limit of two six-year terms for the president of the Russian Federation, regardless of whether they were served back-to-back.
The amendment also specifies its non-applicability to the incumbent president’s previous terms and, therefore, allows him to run for another two terms, should he choose to do so.
The State Duma now has the right to approve a candidate for prime minister of the Russian Federation proposed by the president. The president will then appoint the approved candidate.
According to another amendment, lawmakers, cabinet ministers, judges, and other federal-level officials are banned from holding dual citizenship or permanent residency abroad.
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Original article
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