Bill on mixed elections to Duma to determine development of Russia’s entire political system – Naryshkin

(Interfax – MOSCOW, May 20, 2013) The new bill on mixed elections to the Russian State Duma will become the basis for the development of the political system in the country, however it is difficult to forecast what this system would be like in five years, State Duma Speaker Sergei Naryshkin said on Monday.

“In my point of view, this bill will determine further development of the entire political system,” Naryshkin said when opening an Open Tribune meeting on further development of the Russian political systems, its state, tendencies and forecasts. Head of the parliamentary and non-parliamentary parties, political experts and scientists participated in the discussion.

Reporters paid special attention to the fact that Head of the Civic Initiative Committee, Alexei Kudrin, attended the Open Tribune meeting.

The State Duma has already passed in the first reading the bill initiated by the Russian president on the transfer to the mixed electoral system to the federal parliament.

Naryshkin said that as of now, around 200 amendments had been submitted to the document. All the amendments will be considered at the second reading, which is expected to take place in June, the State Duma speaker said.

Forming the legislative power under the new principle will contribute to its enhancement and “achieving reasonable balance in the system of power division,” Naryshkin said.

Naryshkin said that the idea of developing a federal constitutional law on the Federal Assembly had been supported at the recent meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin with faction leaders. “The work is under way,” he said.

The State Duma speaker said that the reform of the Russian political system continued “and it is currently difficult to imagine what the political landscape would be like in five years.” Naryshkin said that the political landscape would definitely be renewed amid the development of new parties.