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United Russia to support FC members election bill if society deems it fair

The senator is the candidate who gets the largest number of votes

MOSCOW, April 4 (Itar-Tass) — United Russia will support the bill on the election of Federation Council members if the society views this legislation as fair. The bill is expected to be submitted to the State Duma lower house of the Russian parliament during this spring session, deputy State Duma speaker, head of the United Russia faction Andrei Vorobyov told reporters on Wednesday.

"The lawbill on the election of Federation Council members is certainly important," the parliamentarian underlined, "there is no doubt that it will be actively discussed on various floors, in the first place in the regions."

However, only time will show the results of the discussion. "If the society considers the principle of forming the Federation Council as simple, clear and fair, if it provides for electing the best candidate for the post of senator, who is ready to put in a 100-percent effort, we may eventually support the lawbill," Vorobyov said.

Earlier on Wednesday, FC speaker Valentina Matviyenko said the bill would prevent the persons who do not know the regional problems from seeking to represent provinces in the Federation Council.

A candidate for senator should be a Russian citizen over 35 years of age, who has no citizenship of other countries. He or she must have impeccable reputation and live in the territory of a given region for the past five years.

The provision on permanent residence does not apply to the candidates from the executive branch who are FC members, or lawmakers at the State Dumas lower house of the Russian parliament who have mandates from this region.

After the introduction of the new election procedure, the candidate to the post of regional leader should show a list of three people whom he might delegate to the FC in case of winning the election.

In other words, in the future, the FC members - representatives of the executive branch of power will be selected together with the governor. The senator is the candidate who gets the largest number of votes. In case of his resignation, he is replaced by the next candidate by rating. As for the senators’ representing the legislative branch of power in the regions, they will be delegated from among regional deputies.

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