Putin delays constitutional plebiscite amid coronavirus pandemic
Source: Meduza
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced during a televised address on March 25 that a national vote on his proposed changes to the Russian Constitution will not take place on April 22 as planned. Instead, the national plebiscite on the document, whose drastic changes would restructure multiple aspects of government and potentially allow Putin to serve until 2036, will be rescheduled for a later date due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Meduza previously reported that officials were considering a delay in the vote, though Kremlin officials went on record denying that claim
The path to this point
- Next month when holding a nationwide plebiscite on constitutional amendments, Russian election officials will keep polls open for a full week
- In effort to hold constitutional plebiscite amid pandemic, Putin openly considers widespread at-home voting
- Despite coronavirus pandemic, Putin sticks to original April 22 date for plebiscite on constitutional amendments that could prolong his presidency to 2036
- Putin acknowledges that coronavirus might still postpone Russia's constitutional plebiscite