Russian State Duma chairman Boris Gryzlov signing a draft agreement between "United Russia" Duma faction and trade unions "on mutual control over implementation of the law on privileged payments. The event was held in the State Duma.
Photo: Dmitry Azarov
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State Duma Speaker Clarifies the President's Initiatives
// Protocol
State Duma Speaker Boris Gryzlov held a mini briefing yesterday for journalists of the national television stations and information agencies. The speaker commented on Vladimir Putin's recent initiatives on conducting State Duma elections solely on the basis of party lists and on having regional legislative assemblies confirm the president's appointees for governor. In Mr. Gryzlov's opinion, these initiatives are aimed at strengthening democracy in Russia and will enable United Russia (Edinaya Rossiya) to reinforce its political positions.
Until yesterday, Boris Gryzlov commented very sparingly on the president's initiatives, saying only that the Duma was prepared to consider the amendments in the shortest possible time. Yesterday, he commented on Vladimir Putin's proposals in detail but to in a narrow circle. Only journalists from the national television stations and information agencies were invited to the briefing. Representatives of the press were not invited to meet with the speaker, allegedly due to a lack of space in his office.
However, Mr. Gryzlov said nothing sensational and fully approved of the president's proposals for reforming the electoral system. The speaker noted in particular that the introduction of a proportional electoral system in the State Duma would increase the parties' influence on the political situation in the country, since it would be an additional incentive for party actions and would increase citizens' voting activity. The speaker did not explain how abolishing elections in single-member constituencies might decrease voter apathy. However, he noted that under the new electoral system, the influence of political parties, especially Mr. Gryzlov's United Russia party, would increase significantly, since the “objective of any party is to take power in the country by constitutional means”.
Mr. Gryzlov called the initiative for having regional legislative assemblies confirm the president's appointees for governor a “realistic measure for strengthening the country”. He recalled that the practice of appointing regional leaders exists in a number of countries, and therefore the West's accusations that this process is undemocratic “cannot be taken seriously”. “In fact, the president's latest political initiatives have been dictated by the need to increase unity, and in this respect, their connection with the Beslan tragedy is absolutely clear,” Mr. Gryzlov stated with conviction, adding that the unity of the country was possible only if Russian authority is “united and controllable”.
The speaker also considered it necessary to respond to a number of Russian politicians who called the president's initiatives unconstitutional, particularly independent deputy Vladimir Ryzhkov, who promised to challenge the amendments in the Constitutional Court (for now, the deputy has limited himself to publishing an open letter in the media to the chief justice of the Constitutional Court). “These proposals are constitutional,” the speaker said. “The RF Constitution does not currently regulate the procedure for filling the position of head of a Russian region.” The speaker also noted that the electoral system in Russia is quite well developed: municipal governments, regional legislative assemblies, State Duma deputies, and the president are all elected. “What is being proposed today is being proposed for the development of the Constitution, not in defiance of it,” Boris Gryzlov said with assurance.
However, the undoubted constitutionality of the president's initiatives did not prevent Boris Gryalov from talking about the need to revise the draft bill – maybe even before it goes for first reading. “There will definitely be changes,” the speaker promised.
Suzanna Farizova
All the Article in Russian as of Oct. 06, 2004
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