DATE=6/30/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA POLITICS (L)
NUMBER=2-263936
BYLINE=EVE CONANT
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The lower house of Russia's parliament, the
Duma, has voted overwhelmingly (399 to nine) in favor
of a bill giving President Vladimir Putin the right to
dismiss elected regional governors and local
legislatures. V-O-A Correspondent Eve Conant reports
from Moscow.
TEXT: Lawmakers in the Duma voted overwhelmingly for
a bill allowing President Putin to dismiss regional
governors if a court determines they have violated
federal laws. The bill also permits Mr. Putin to
suspend governors under criminal investigation, and to
dissolve local assemblies if a court determines they
violate the constitution.
The bill is a key part of a wider plan by Mr. Putin to
tighten the Kremlin's grip over Russia's 89 regions --
specifically those provinces that have passed laws
contravening Russia's constitution. President Putin
has argued that stronger central control is necessary
to repair the stagnant economy and to keep Russia a
unified nation.
Governors in the upper house, the Federation Council,
earlier this week rejected one part of the landmark
plan -- a bill that would strip them of their
legislative seats and diplomatic immunity. The
Kremlin has suggested that some leaders could come
under investigation for their activity.
Wide support for the bill in the lower house has given
Duma lawmakers the legal leverage to override the
governors and fulfill Mr. Putin's wishes, if they
choose to do so. Pro-Kremlin parties won a majority
in the lower house in elections last December.
But Duma lawmaker Vladimir Volodin says the lower
house is trying to find a compromise with the upper
house.
/// VOLODIN ACT IN RUSSIAN-IN & FADE UNDER ///
Mr. Volodin says the lower house can certainly
override a veto, but this would not be right. He
says such a move would split the chambers of
parliament in two and -- in his words - "we need the
senators in the regions to support Mr. Putin's
economic plans in the future."
The speaker of Russia's lower house said President
Putin was also ready to make some compromises on the
plan, such as allowing some regional leaders to keep
their seats.
The lower house on Friday voted in favor of setting up
a commission to work out a compromise version of the
package of bills. But Duma lawmakers have threatened
to override the governors' vote unless they agree to
work with the commission toward a compromise with
President Putin. (Signed)
NEB/EC/JWH/WTW
30-Jun-2000 10:12 AM EDT (30-Jun-2000 1412 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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