Azadlig: Putin’s dignity did not allow him to amend Constitution, while Aliyev’s – allowed
Russian Prime Minister Vladmir Putin gave an interview to heads of three federal TV channels on Monday. The recent settlement of the problem of power was the main topic of the conversation. The journalists asked Putin why he is returning to the Kremlin. The Prime Minister said he wants to strengthen the political system of Russia. Putin said he had never sought to be a president and this is why he had not amended the Constitution even though he could have done it easily.
“I had never strived for this job, understanding a large amount of work and tremendous responsibility,” he said.
He recalled that when he was president for two consecutive terms in 2000-2008, he disagreed to turn for a third term. “I did not cling to that job even though I could have easily amended the Constitution [so that one person could remain president for more than two consecutive terms], but I did not do that for a concrete person – I mean myself,” the prime minister said.
Azadlig writes that this statement by Putin may become an example for President Ilham Aliyev.
“Vladimir Putin did not amend the Constitution for the purpose of reelection for a third term, acting in an unbecoming way, while Ilham Aliyev amended the Constitution for this very purpose in 2009,” the newspaper wrote ironically.