Russian term-limit effort gains momentum

MOSCOW, Nov. 14 (UPI) -- A proposal to increase the term limits for the Russian presidency and parliament was approved by the lower house Friday, its speaker said.

State Duma Speaker Boris Gryzlov confirmed that the term-limit proposal passed unanimously in its first reading, Kommersant reported.

The proposal, initially suggested by President Dmitry Medvedev, would extend a president's term to six years and increase a parliamentary term to five years.

The increase from the current four-year parliamentary and presidential terms would not apply to politicians already serving, RIA Novosti reported.

Votes on the second and third and final readings of Medvedev's proposed package will be taking place next week, Gryzlov said Friday.