Vladimir Putin: currently Russia's prime minister. He could return as president for two six-year terms Photograph: Dmitry Astakhov/EPA

Russian MPs today took the first step in changing the constitution to pave the way for Vladimir Putin to make a comeback as president.

Putin stepped down in May as he was barred constitutionally from seeking a third successive term as president, and became prime minister. He was succeeded by his protege, Dmitry Medvedev, although Putin, a former head of Russian intelligence, is considered the power behind the throne.

The Duma, Russia's lower house of parliament, voted 388-58 to make changes to the constitution that would extend the presidential term from four to six years. The chamber, dominated by the pro-Kremlin United Russia party, also voted to extend its own term to five years from four.

The amendments need to pass through two more readings to change the constitution. Earlier this week Putin said he backed a longer term for the next president but said it was too early to say who that might be. The Kremlin said the constitutional change will not apply to the term Medvedev is serving now.

There is speculation that Medvedev would resign early, allowing Putin to become acting president and pave the way for new elections. If Putin wins the election - and he would be the overwhelming favourite - he could be in office for two six-year terms.

Before the vote, the Communist party leader, Gennady Zyuganov, condemned the changes and said his faction would not back them.

"If we take the scope of power of the current president, he has more power then general secretary (of the Soviet Union), the czar and the pharaoh altogether. He has enough power to solve any issues. And there is not a single element of control over this authority," Zyuganov said.

He warned that electing a person for a six-year term "controlled by no one" would be an "even bigger tragedy and danger for the country [than the economic crisis]".

His opposition party controls 57 seats in the Duma.