2008 amendments to the Constitution of Russia

Earlier only minor adjustments concerning the naming of the federal subjects or their merging were made, which require a much simpler procedure.

President Dmitry Medvedev, who succeeded Vladimir Putin earlier that year, made that brief proposal during his first annual address to the Federal Assembly on 5 November 2008:[3] [W]e should increase the constitutional mandates of the President and State Duma to six and five years respectively.

Many have made reference to history, which abounds with examples of democratic countries changing the terms and mandates of their state bodies.

[9] Viktor Ilyukhin, a Communist legislator, commented during discussions in the State Duma on 14 November: Why are we in such a hurry?

[11] Yulia Latynina, journalist for The Moscow Times, speculated that the reform prefigures Vladimir Putin's return to the Kremlin, probably earlier than in May 2012, when Medvedev's term is set to expire.

An unnamed official from the Presidential Executive Office cited by Vedomosti hinted that Medvedev could resign as early as in 2009.

[13] A survey held by VTsIOM on 15–16 November showed 56% support of a longer presidency and extended term of parliament among the Russians.