MOSCOW, December 26 (Itar-Tass) —— The presidential bill for an easier registration of parties may enter into force already in February 2012, Russian presidential aide Arkady Dvorkovich said.
In reply to a question live on the Ekho Moskvy radio station about the deadlines for the enactment of a bill with the initiatives, which President Dmitry Medvedev made in his annual state-of-the-nation address to the Federal Assembly, Dvorkovich said, “I do not believe that the president should be guided by the demands made at the rallies.” However, “the decision should be made as quick as possible,” he believes.
“If the bill is approved at the first meeting (of the State Duma), it can enter into force in February,” Dvorkovich said.
One more bill, which changes the procedure for vesting the governors with powers, “will be submitted” in the parliament soon, he said. “I hope that the bill will be enacted in the first half of the year,” the presidential aide stated.
On December 23, President Dmitry Medvedev submitted in the State Duma right two bills for the liberalization of the political system in Russia. One of the bills makes the requirements easier for the creation and activities of political parties. So, starting from January 1, 2013, an organization, which numbers just 500 people, can be found a political party. Under the current rules the party should have no less than 45,000 members, it will be no less than 40,000 members starting from January 1, 2012.
The second bill cancelled the signup campaign for candidates at almost any elections. The only exception is the presidential elections. Meanwhile, public unions, which intend to run in the elections to local self-government bodies, should collect signatures in support of their candidates.
Under the bill the non-parliamentary parties should collect 100,000 signatures, rather than at least two million signatures as now at presidential elections. The number of signatures, which are required in support of self-nominees, will be cut from two millions to 300,000.