Interfax: Naryshkin declares importance of constitution’s stability

MOSCOW. Dec 9 (Interfax) – State Duma Speaker Sergei Naryshkin has noted the importance of the stability of the Russian constitution and the delicate attitude of Russian society and the authorities towards it.

“The stability of the Russian constitution is of special importance for our country,” Naryshkin said at a joint meeting of two houses of the Russian Federal Assembly at the Bolshoi Theater on Monday.

He recalled the constitutional amendments of 2008 regarding the period of office of the president and the State Duma and the government’s annual report to deputies.

The constitutional amendments, which combined the Supreme Court and the Supreme Court Arbitration, target better quality of judiciary practices and supervision over the enforcement of laws, the speaker said.

“In spite of these specific adjustments, the text of the fundamental law has been stable for two decades. The first two chapters of the constitution and the ninth chapter enjoy a higher degree of protection from revision, for which we wish to say special words of thanks to its authors,” Naryshkin said.

“I am confident that the prospects of our country are linked to a considerable degree with the delicate attitude of all of our society and that of the authorities towards the fundamental law,” the State Duma speaker said.

He recalled his earlier proposal to bind persons seeking civil service positions to take an exam of their knowledge of the constitution.

“I think that could be done at the administrations of the legislative authorities already next year,” Naryshkin said.