The KPRF faction criticized the bill in the lower house. "The submitted draft law deprives Russian Federation citizens of the right to elect heads of Russian Federation constituent members," said faction representative Ivan Melnikov. The Communists criticized the main provisions of the bill relating to dismissal of Russian Federation constituent members' heads and the possible dismissal of regions' legislative assemblies in case they failed twice to confirm the candidacy nominated by the president.
United Russia representative Andrei Klimov said the faction backed the president's initiative.
In the deputy's words, the bill is in line with the Russian Constitution. "There is nothing fundamentally new in the proposed bill," Mr. Klimov said. He recalled that the procedure of direct appointment of governors without coordination had long existed in Russia.
LDPR leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky ardently supported the president's proposal.
In his opinion, it's necessary to go farther: the president would directly appoint regional heads.
Mr. Zhirinovsky criticized the position of Communists, who have a negative attitude toward "minor attempts to somewhat strengthen power in the country."
Rodina faction leader Dmitry Rogozin proposed reappointing all regions' heads in 2005.
Most faction deputies, though not all, back the draft bill, said Mr. Rogozin. In his words, for real patriots, this proposal was not conjectural, and was aimed at preventing the country from being torn on its borders.
Mr. Rogozin said deputies should think about how to "pass from a scrappy, ragged federation to a unitary state." "We are adopting this draft law not for 10 but for 100 years. We need to reduce Russia to a common denominator," said Mr. Rogozin, who believes that federation constituent members should be equal to each other.
The country's population wants the power to be responsible, honest and professional. As for its structure, for the population, it doesn't matter, said Mr. Rogozin.
Independent deputy Nikolai Gonchar believes major amendments should be introduced to the draft law. In particular, if 50% of voters failed to attend gubernatorial elections, the decision on the candidacy of the Russian Federation constituent member head should be taken by the president.
With the necessary 226 votes, 365 deputies voted for the adoption of the document, 64, against, with four abstentions.
