Putin promises to keep Russian constitution intact after election sweep

0 Comments | AFP, December, 2003

MOSCOW (AFP) — President Vladimir Putin sought to dispel speculation that he planned to alter the country's constitution to extend his term in office after gaining an overwhelming majority in parliamentary elections.

"It is time for us to end all talk about the need to change the constitution," Putin said in televised remarks.

"I absolutely think that the current constitution became the basis for stability in society, and I believe that has not exhausted its positive potential," he said.

Russian liberals who suffered a devastating defeat in Sunday's vote warned that Putin was lurching toward authoritarianism while pro-Kremlin parties basked in glory and vowed to "return the nation's riches to the state."

Speculation has been rife in Moscow that Putin...