Sergei Mironov, speaker of the upper house of the Russian parliament, has a right to criticize legislative proposals, President Dmitry Medvedev said on Friday.
"He is chairman of the Federation Council, but at the same time he is also a member of the Federation Council as other members of the upper house," Medvedev said.
Mironov harshly criticized a new law reducing the Federation Council's powers to approve newly appointed members.
Under the law, which takes effect on January 1, 2011, new house members will assume office within 10 days of their appointment, effectively stripping the Federation Council of the power to conduct official checks on candidates.
Medvedev said the new law "strengthens democracy in our country."
Asked about Mironov's political future, the Russian head of state said any person's political future depended on himself.
"Let him think about his own future," Medvedev said.
It has been rumored that Mironov might lose his office over his tough stance.
Mironov, who leads the pro-Kremlin A Just Russia party, said on Tuesday the new procedure would "further increase corruption risks and erode the system of checks and balances in relations between the federal center and the regions."
He also reiterated his call to restore a direct popular vote for members of the upper house.
Currently each Russian region sends two unelected representatives to the 166-seat Federation Council.
SEOUL, November 12 (RIA Novosti)
