The Russian elections: "The Kremlin will have the two-thirds majority needed to change the constitution. The Liberal Democrats' first step, says one of their spokesmen, will be to propose extending the presidential term to seven years. Mr Putin has said that the constitution will stay untouched; in any case, changing it requires the approval of most of the regional legislatures too, a lengthy process. Yet two years from now, if he thinks he needs more time for his reforms, he may be tempted to accept�oh, so reluctantly�the pleas of his loyal acolytes. "