Economics

Putin Outlines Sweeping Powers for State Council in Shakeup

  • President presents draft of constitutional changes to Duma
  • Political overhaul seen as effort to extend rule beyond 2024

Vladimir Putin, Russia's president, speaks during his annual state of the nation address in Moscow, on Jan. 15.

Photographer: Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg
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President Vladimir Putin proposed giving broad new authority to set the direction of foreign, domestic and economic policy to the State Council as part of the constitutional overhaul he announced last week.

Putin laid out the details of the plan -- widely seen as the Kremlin’s effort to lay the groundwork for Putin extending his rule beyond the end of his current term in 2024 -- in draft amendments to the constitution submitted to parliament Monday.