Settle by 2036 or resign and become a senator for life with guaranteed immunity. These are the options that the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, has it on the table today.
The truth is that the president made his way this week to calmly leave the Kremlin, if he wishes, by signing a law that protects former presidents from persecution.
(In context: Putin enacts a law that will grant him immunity when he leaves the Kremlin).
Now neither the former Russian presidents nor their relatives can be arrested, arrested, searches, interrogations or criminal or administrative cases, as stipulated in the recent legal norm which, after passing through Parliament, was sanctioned by Putin.
The legislation was part of the constitutional changes that were approved in a referendum in June and gave the 68-year-old president the green light to remain in the presidency beyond 2024.
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Before the law was passed, a former president enjoyed immunity only acts committed during his term of office or related to the exercise of his office, but was not protected against event-related causes before or after his government.
(new law) is a general guarantee to ensure that Putin’s successor will not seek revenge
Experts agree that there is nothing strange about someone like Putin, who has been in office for more than 20 years and who believes he can be persecuted.
“It’s not uncommon, there could be a lot of investigation (…) into corruption and Russia’s actions against opponents,” said Aymeric Durez, a professor of international relations at Javerian University. the new law is “a general guarantee to ensure that Putin’s successor will not seek revenge” or delegitimize their actions.
Luisa Lozano, a professor at the Faculty of Law and Political Science at the University of Sabana, told the newspaper that Putin has historically been questioned for events, such as disappearances or prisons, committed in some Russian-led wars.
According to Lozano, the extension of immunity is not a surprise, because Putin has long ruled Russia “No major restrictions” and this responds to the president’s fear of what might happen if he leaves office.
Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev address Russian militants in Moscow.
Dmitry Medvedev, a Russian leader between 2008 and 2012, was the target of several anti-corruption investigations by opposition leader Alexei Navalni at the end of his term. But fortunately, Medvedev will also benefit from the new legal measure.
Analysts estimate that if Putin began to be investigated for any reason, the risk of being deprived of immunity would be minimal. Previously, this was lost if the Russian Investigative Committee initiated a criminal case for a serious crime committed during the exercise of its function and it was sanctioned by the Federal Assembly (parliament).
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With the ratification of the law, it can only go through a decision of the Senate, which must have a removal imposed by the lower house and supported by two thirds of Parliament.
Further, the allegations must be upheld by the Supreme Court or the Constitutional Court and once that happens, the Senate can’t take more than three months to issue a verdict.
According to Durez, the fact that Putin’s protection is being removed is a “totally impossible” fact, because the institutions involved in the process are under his control and have significant presidential power, which was strengthened by the constitutional amendments approved this year.
What you want to protect is Putin’s legacy, on which there can be no risk of being erased …
For his part, Mauricio Jaramillo, a professor of international relations at the Universidad del Rosario, said that “nothing is impossible in politics” and that what he is finally trying to do with the law is reduces the chance of a successful trial against Putin.
However, another big goal is added. Putin has also signed a law that allows former presidents to serve as senators for life and that, along with their immunity, becomes a way to protect their heritage.
“What you want to protect is Putin’s legacy, which there is no risk of it being erased, either by a lawsuit against him, so immunity, or because Russia is reaching another prime minister or another president, and another way “, said Jaramillo, adding that the idea that Putin to become a senator for life means making sure that “the tradition of presidents is present in Russian politics for a long time.”
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For this expert, the three main implications of both laws are the strengthening of the presidential model imposed in Russia, the “fashion” in the world to judge presidents who leave office and the possible incidence of Little in the country’s political system if he leaves power.
But Putin did not speak directly about the latter possibility. Nor for the candidacy for a fifth term, despite the fact that the same package of constitutional amendments opened the possibility of being re-elected for two more terms.
Thus, although he is still unsure whether he will continue as president or serve as a senator, what his actions suggest is that he wants to have more avenues available. Experts suggest that He will stop driving only because of health problems and the end of his political life, which, in any case, provides security, is still far away.
PAULA VALERIA GALLO *
INTERNATIONAL DESIGN
* With information from AFP and Efe
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