PRESS-RELEASE
Moscow, June 16, 2000
For immediate distribution
ELECTION REFORM: INITIATIVE OF THE "RUSSIA'S REGIONS" - IT IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT AN ABSOLUTELY INSUFFICIENT ONE.
DECLARATION OF NIKOLAY KHRAMOV, RUSSIAN COORDINATOR OF THE RADICAL PARTY AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE KHRAMOV'S CLUB - UNION FOR LIBERTARIAN REFORMS:
The vice-chairman of the faction "Yedinstvo" Frants Klintsevich who this week condemned the legislative initiative of the deputy Klimov from the faction "Russia's regions" to increase the number of the one-mandate deputies to 300, actuallydemonstrated his sharp difference of principle with the official position of his faction in respect of the election reform. "Yedinstvo" declares - at least in words - its adherence to the abolition of the elections by party lists and full transitionto the one-mandate system. On the contrary, one of its leaders publicly accuses authors of the initiative on increasing the quota of one-mandate deputies of lobbying the interests of the "regional barons". However, let Mr. Klintsevich himself resolvehis differences with his faction.
As regards the substance of the initiative of the "Russia's regions" one can say only one thing: this is a step in the right direction, but an absolutely insufficient one. The example of Italy, which passed in the 1993 from the 100% proportionalelection system to the mixed one (in the same proportion - 2/3 and 1/3), clearly shows: a quasi-reform of this kind is insufficient to destroy the partocratic system and to pass to the two-party system in American way or the "two and a half party"system of the British type.
I keep insisting: Russia needs a total abolition of the elections to the Duma by party lists and an election reform to establish a pure Anglo-Saxon system of one-mandate majoritarian one-tour elections which would lead to the fundamentally newtwo-party system in the USA way. This system would be guaranteed from instability, extremism and permanent government crises. Next weeks and even days - before the Duma leaves for the parliamentary recess - we, radicals, are going to launch acorresponding political initiative addressed to the Russian parliamentaries".
For further information:
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Internet: www.RadicalParty.org
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