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Opposition demarche to have no effect on consideration of law

All the arguments against the inclusion of the draft law in the agenda were not solid
Photo ITAR-TASS
Photo ITAR-TASS

MOSCOW, May 17 (Itar-Tass) —— A possible demarche of the opposition will have no effect on the State Duma's consideration of the draft law on millions-roubles fines for rallies, one of United Russia's leaders in the State Duma, Raisa Karmazina, told Itar-Tass on Thursday.

She participated in the vote in the Duma Council on Thursday to include the initiative in the agenda for the Friday meeting.

"I think it will not influence the consideration," she said, commenting on the threat of opposition members in the Duma to leave the meeting of the lower house on May 18.

According to her, the opposition agrees on the conception of the draft law, but disagrees on the fine sum and some other provisions. These are issues of the second reading, she said.

As a rule, a law important for the society is discussed at round table meetings or hearings. Any legislator may propose an amendment, come to the committee and defend it. So, there must be a dialogue on Friday, and they should express their view, but not like an ostrich to hide the head into the ground, Karmazina said.

She said it seemed to her that the opposition objected to the draft law only since "they were opposition".

All the arguments against the inclusion of the draft law in the agenda were not solid, the representative of the parliament majority concluded.

Earlier on Thursday, deputy chairman of the Communist Party's Central Committee Vladimir Kashin told Itar-Tass that the three opposition parties would walk out if the Duma meeting on May 18 considers the draft law on millions-roubles fines for violations in rallies.

When the council discussed whether to include the initiative in the agenda, it was supported by six members and six were against, he said.

The draft law raising fines for violations in rallies was submitted by United Russia members to the State Duma on May 10.