The Hindu : International : Putin orders overhaul of state system

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Sep 14, 2004

International

International

Putin orders overhaul of state system

By Vladimir Radyuhin

MOSCOW, SEPT. 13. The Russian President, Vladimir Putin, has set in motion a sweeping overhaul of the country's political system to boost the centre's powers in the fight against terrorism.

Mr. Putin announced plans to appoint regional Governors who are currently elected and to change the way the lower House of Parliament is elected.

He also ordered streamlining the national security system and called for drastic measures to reduce poverty and unemployment in North Caucasus.

He said the changes were needed to "strengthen national unity" in the face of terrorists' attempts to provoke a "disintegration of the country."

He addressed today a special meeting of the Federal Government and the leaders of Russia's 89 provinces called in the wake of a series of Chechnya-linked terrorist attacks that claimed over 440 lives in recent days.

Bill soon

The Kremlin will submit to Parliament a bill later this year providing for regional Governors to be nominated by the President subject to subsequent endorsement by regional legislatures, rather elected by a popular vote. Mr. Putin also proposed that the State Duma, Parliament's lower House, be elected solely on the party list basis.

At present, half of the State Duma's 450 Deputies are elected on party lists, while the other half are filled from individual constituencies. The new system should speed up the rise of strong political parties.

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