Interfax: United Russia: economic focus of presidential address derives from challenges faced by Russia

File Photo of Vladimir Putin at Podium Gesturing

MOSCOW. Dec 12 (Interfax) – The economic focus of the Russian president’s address to the Federal Assembly derives from the challenges faced by contemporary Russia and some of the presidential ideas will determine the national development vector for the next few years to come, State Duma deputy, United Russia General Council Deputy Secretary Olga Batalina said.

“The address was largely economic, which might have been the main difference from the addresses of the previous years. This is not accidental: after all, the main challenges the country has encountered are economic. Besides, this sphere [the economy] has a direct effect on the life quality, wages and employment and concerns everyone without an exception,” she told Interfax on Thursday.

The address was substantive and contained specific deadlines and instructions the government, its ministries and the Federal Assembly were supposed to meet shortly, she said.

“The president put forward a number of very serious proposals, which would shape up the economic development course of our country for the next few years,” Batalina said.

These include the formation of outrunning economic growth territories in the Russian Far East and East Siberia to enjoy benefits in taxes and insurance contributions, measures against “offshorization” of the economy and the beginning of a new stage of the local self-government reform, the deputy said.

“Problems of local self-government, which is overburdened with powers and does not have sufficient sources of financing, are the problems experienced daily by residents in Russian cities and the countryside. Attempts to resolve these problems have been made repeatedly in the recent years but, unfortunately, no tangible results have been achieved,” Batalina said.

So, the president’s order to ensure independence and financial well-being of local authorities “will give a major boost to the solution of local self-government problems,” she said.

[featured image is file photo of past event]

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