Why Vladimir Putin’s ‘presidency for life’ may prove more short-lived

Russians have voted to extend their leader’s term but experts say his grip on power is slipping

Vladimir Putin
Russians have voted to extend their leader’s term but experts say his grip on power is slipping
(Image credit: AFP via Getty Images)

Vladimir Putin appears set to remain in power until 2036 after winning a controversial vote to amend Russia’s Constitution and reset presidential term limits.

But with both oil prices and his approval ratings falling, the Russian leader’s “job for life” may not be as safe as it seems.

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Arion McNicoll is a freelance writer at The Week Digital and was previously the UK website’s editor. He has also held senior editorial roles at CNN, The Times and The Sunday Times. Along with his writing work, he co-hosts “Today in History with The Retrospectors”, Rethink Audio’s flagship daily podcast, and is a regular panellist (and occasional stand-in host) on “The Week Unwrapped”. He is also a judge for The Publisher Podcast Awards.