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Sixth State Duma opens for first meeting

The oldest deputy from the United Russia faction Vladimir Dolgikh noted that 421 deputies were registered

MOSCOW, December 21 (Itar-Tass) — The sixth State Duma opened its first meeting to the accompaniment of the Russian national anthem on Wednesday.

The oldest deputy from the United Russia faction Vladimir Dolgikh opened a plenary meeting. He noted that 421 deputies were registered for the first meeting.

The elections to the sixth State Duma were held on December 4. United Russia gained 238 seats (instead of 315 seats in the fifth State Duma), the CPRF – 92 seats, Just Russia – 64 seats and the LDPR – 56 seats. Contrary to previous convocations of the State Duma the sixth Duma will work five years instead of four years.

The deputies are to form a full State Duma structure, elect its speaker, vice-speakers and approve the heads of the committees on Wednesday. On Tuesday, an inter-faction working group agreed on the so-called package agreement for the distribution of the posts of vice-speakers and the heads of the committees. The sixth State Duma will have 29 committees instead of 32 committees in the previous Duma. The leadership in the committees will be distributed on the quota principle: 15 posts of the committee heads to United Russia, six to the CPRF, four to Just Russia and the LDPR each.