Russia’s lower house of parliament, the State Duma, approved Friday constitutional changes to extend presidential and parliamentary terms from four to six and five years respectively.

Russia’s lower house of parliament, the State Duma, convened on November 21, 2008. The State Duma approved Friday constitutional changes to extend presidential and parliamentary terms from four to six and five years respectively. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

The draft law has yet to be voted on by the Federation Council, the upper house of parliament, and by regional legislatures.

The constitutional amendments, proposed by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in his first state-of-the-nation address earlier this month, will enter into force once they have been approved by both houses of parliament and at least two-thirds of regional legislatures and published in a government newspaper.

To counterbalance an extension of the presidential term, the lawmakers also voted unanimously for another bill, which requires the government report annually to the State Duma on its work and answer questions raised by the parliament.

VietNamNet/Xinhuanet