Putin Hints He'll Soften Pension-Age Hike That Angered Russians
- Plan to raise retirement ages had hit popularity ratings
- Government says reforms are necessary to stabilize system
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Vladimir Putin suggested he may soften a plan to raise pension ages that’s drawn intense public criticism and pushed the Russian leader’s poll ratings to the lowest levels in more than four years.
“I ask that you not forget that all our decisions will affect the fates of millions of people and should be fair and take citizens’ interests into account,” Putin told his top economic officials in televised comments at a meeting in Siberia Tuesday. “We can’t act mechanistically or formally here, only cautiously and in a balanced way,” he said, adding that he’ll outline his specific views Wednesday in an national address.