gazeta.ru

August 7, 2000

Kremlin Prepares Duma Reform In Deputies' Absence

The Kremlin could not have chosen a more advantageous time to introduce its plans to reform the state Duma. In August and September all the deputies are taking their well-earned holidays. The restructuring of the lower house will immediately be implemented on two levels; changes to the law 'on the election of deputies and the introduction of a bill 'on parties.'

Viktor Zorkaltsev, head of the Duma committee on the affaires of public and religious organizations, and member of the communist faction in the Duma, has said that the law on political parties could be adopted by the end of the Duma's autumn session. The committee members from the pro-Putin faction Unity are currently working on the text of the bill, the aim of which is not being kept secret: "The necessity of forming a political system in Russia in which 2 or 3 political parties would dominate, preferably only 2"

Obviously one of those parties would be Unity, and the second, most likely the Communist Party. However, should a constructive opposition movement emerge by the winter, the Kremlin would not object and the communists could be elbowed from the forefront of Russia's political scene.

Zorkaltsev says the revised law on elections to the lower house will probably include a clause stipulating that parties require more than the current %5 in order to gain seats in the Duma and have their deposits returned. Also it is expected that the bill will contain regulations whereby a political party will require 10,000 signed up members in order to register as an official party permitted to stand in elections.

The Kremlin handed the bill 'on the election of deputies to the State Duma' a while back already but the deputies have, quite understandably, not been in a hurry to amend it and put it to the vote. According to the draft legislation, the existing balance of 50% party candidates and 50% independent candidates, would be redressed to favour the latter, which would lead to the localization of the Duma elections. The number of so-called party seats would be reduced to 150 from the current 225.

It is not surprising then that the Union of Right Forces (SPS) and Yabloko factions have announced that they are preparing their own version of the draft bill according to which the percentage of seats reserved for party representatives would be increased to 70% and only 30 % would remain for independent regional representatives.

According to Yabloko spokesman Dergei Ivanenko, "Increasing the number of independent regional representatives would lead to the Duma being dominated by candidates totally dependent on regional rulers or shady half-criminal capital. We have already witnessed such a scenario."

Elena Ogorodnikova, staff writer