Interfax: Putin calls for bolstering local self-government system in Russia

MOSCOW. Dec 12 (Interfax) – Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for introducing legislative guarantees next year for establishing an independent and financially self-sufficient local self-government system in Russia.

“I am addressing the All-Russian Local Self-Government Council, municipalities, governors, the Federation Council members and the Russian government: let’s look at all aspects of these problems once again so as to bring the situation into line with common sense as time dictates,” Putin said in an annual address to the Federal Assembly on Thursday.

“Adjustment of common principles of organization of local self-government bodies and the development of strong, independent and financially self-sufficient government bodies at the local level are a crucial goal,” he said.

“And we should start this work and basically provide its legislative foundation as early as 2014, the year of the 150th anniversary of the famous local self-government system reform,” he said.

This refers to the development of local self-government in imperial Russia that enabled it to make a breakthrough and find skillful human resources for carrying out major progressive transformations, Putin said. “I am sure that strong local self-government bodies could again become a powerful resource to renew the country’s personnel potential,” he said.