俄议会下院星期五在对这项议案进行一读时以压倒多数批准了这项提案。这项提案还需要通过二读和三读，对宪法进行修改后成为法律。在总统梅德韦杰夫上周宣布了这项提案后，俄罗斯下院迅速采取行动对提案进行立法。
反对人士说，这一提案将使俄罗斯前总统普京得以在短期内寻求重登总统宝座。普京曾任俄罗斯总理。梅德韦杰夫还提议把俄罗斯国家杜马的任期从4年延长到5年。
The lower house of parliament overwhelmingly approved the measure during its first reading today. It will need to pass through two more readings to change the constitution and become law. The lower house has fast tracked the measure, which was announced by President Dmitri Medvedev last week.
Opponents say the measure could allow former Russian President Vladimir Putin, who now is Russia’s prime minister, to quickly seek to return to the presidency. Mr. Medvedev has also proposed extending the term of the State Duma from four to five years.