Russian President Vladimir Putin supports a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow him to seek reelection after his term ends in 2024. At 67 years old, Putin is Russia’s longest serving leader since Josef Stalin. The former KGB agent has held high office in the Kremlin for 20 years, rotating between the titles of president and prime minister since 2000.

In January, Putin had proposed a series of constitutional amendments which many presumed would be used to maintain his hold on power — but it was unclear until Tuesday precisely how that could be achieved.

The Putin-endorsed amendment, put forward Tuesday by Soviet cosmonaut turned lawmaker Valentina Tereshkova, would either remove Russia’s two-term limit for presidents, or make an exception for Putin and reset the clock so that his four terms would not count.

“I propose to either lift the presidential term limit or add a clause that after the revised constitution enters force, the incumbent president, just like any other citizen, has the right to seek the presidency,” she said to applause.

Tereshkova’s proposal was endorsed by lawmakers in the tightly-controlled State Duma.

After Tereshkova spoke, Putin told parliament that “he was aware of public calls for him to stay on” and that Russia needs stability over all, reports NBC News.

“The president is a guarantor of security of our state, its internal stability and evolutionary development,” Putin said. “We have had enough revolutions.”

Putin doesn’t want the term limit exception being carved out for himself to apply long-term, however.

“As for the proposal to lift restrictions for any person, including the incumbent, to allow running in elections, this option is possible,” Putin said.