MOSCOW, October 12. /TASS/. Russia’s political system is developing and furnishes proactive people with possibilities to become federal-level politicians, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday at a meeting with lawmakers of the new State Duma, or lower parliament house.
"Russia’s political system is developing to meet the changing demands of society. It gives possibilities to proactive, highly-motivated people to become politicians of the federal level," he said.
He noted that many of the newly elected lawmakers "have been in the State Duma for many convocations." "It is important for successful law-making, legislative work, the development of the best parliamentary traditions," he added.
At the same time, in his words, the composition of the parliament has been considerably renewed, with 218 out of 450 lawmakers being elected for the first time.
"This vector for renovation was set by the United Russia party. In its faction, which has retained the constitutional majority of 48.5%, nearly half of the lawmakers are newly elected," Putin said.
He valued the quick and coordinated preparation of the first meeting of the State Duma of the eighth convocation, which took place on Tuesday morning. "Practically all key organizational issues were settled today, with factions, committees and commission being registered, their chairmen and State Duma speakers being elected. Now, it is time to begin work on the legislative agenda," he said and congratulated the lawmakers on the beginning of their work in the new State Duma.