MOSCOW, March 10. /TASS/. Vladimir Putin sees no need for snap election to the State Duma, the Russian president said Tuesday, speaking at the lower chamber of the parliament.
"If there is no consensus [on this issue] in the parliament — and the speaker [Vyacheslav Volodin] has told me there is none — then I see no need for snap elections to the State Duma," the head of state said.
"If Russian citizens vote in favor of the amendments to the basic law, including handing over some presidential powers to the State Duma [lower chamber] and the Federation Council [upper chamber], these changes must enter force immediately after the amendments are published, and therefore, the State Duma must instantly assume new, extended powers," Putin noted.
According to the head of state, "a question arises — whether the current Duma membership has [the right] to accept these powers."
"In my opinion, of course, it does," the president asserted. "All legal, legitimate grounds for this exist."
"Of course, in the end it is your decision," the head of state told the lawmakers.
"If citizens come to the voting stations on April 22 and vote, that would mean they confirm the powers, the new powers of the State Duma. The people — the only source of power — will have a say. That is all. The issue is closed," Putin explained.
According to the president, "a significant expansion of parliamentary powers is on the table, and this is a way toward closer cooperation between representative and executive branches."
"That would mean increase of their mutual responsibility for the results achieved, or for the lack thereof," the president underscored.
He believes that "at this stage of development of the society, such changes are justified and enough," and that "this is already a qualitative step forward from democracy development standpoint."