United Russia will not adopt unpopular decisions – Medvedev

File Photo of Dmitry Medvedev with United Russia Logos Behind Him

MOSCOW. Sept 24 (Interfax) – The United Russia party, which has won a constitutional majority in the new State Duma, will not adopt unpopular decisions, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, who is the party’s chairman, said.

“Some people think that the constitutional majority in the Duma and solid representation at the regional level gives the party a right to adopt harsh decisions which are ill-considered and do not enjoy people’s support. I would like to say with all responsibility that this will not happen,” Medvedev said at a joint session of United Russia’s Supreme and General Councils on Saturday.

The party values the support it has received and understands its responsibility to people and therefore, United Russia will pursue some graded, well-considered reforms in Russia’s social sphere and economy in general, Medvedev said.

He also underlined that the State Duma constitutional majority won by United Russia is not only an indicator of the high confidence in the party among the voters, but also a big responsibility.

Medvedev admitted that the current economic situation is difficult and that now many people see their incomes falling and have difficulties in getting accustomed to the new reality, not least because previously, their living standards improved steadily for several electoral cycles in a row.

But even under these conditions, Medvedev went on, Russians nevertheless voted for United Russia in the belief that the party knows how to change things.

Therefore, the party faces two challenges: to ensure a sustainable economic growth and increase people’s welfare at the same time, he said.

“But we will never shift the entire burden onto people since the real situation of people and their income levels must be taken into account,” Medvedev said.

Medvedev underlined that fulfillment of social commitments and the social support of needy citizens will at all times be in the center of attention for United Russia, across all the levels of government.

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