Russian State Duma Chairman Boris Gryzlov, center, attends the Duma session.
Photo: Dmitry Dukhanin
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State Duma Amended the Referendum Act
Russia’s State Duma passed in the final reading Friday the amendments to the Act on the RF Referendum, Interfax reported.
Pursuant to the latest amendments, no issues related to the federal budget, federal taxes and dues, state bond issue, changes in financial liabilities of the government, financial, foreign exchange and customs regulations as well as a few other issues referred to the exclusive competence of the authorities will be ever introduced for the referendum. The bill was passed despite the fierce opposition of the Communist Party.
Represented by United Russia, the parliament majority had been long lobbying the ban on using the referendum for political purposes. “No need for some political forces to play for destabilization of political situation by promoting the referendum idea,” State Duma Speaker Boris Gryzlov said not long ago.
In protest against passing the bill, all members of the Communist Party faction left the State Duma April 4. According to communists, the changes in referendum regulations violate constitutional rights of the citizens.
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