The State Council held a session on decentralization of power today, chaired by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. Proposals on reforming the political system were made. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said that the initiative is timely but distribution of power from the federal center shouled be balanced and analyzed in detail, Interfax reports.
Vice-Premier Dmitry Kozak proposed more power for federal executives in regions, including authorizing them to initiate early end of terms of office for region heads. Kozak added that federal executives need more influence. This would allow regional authorities to cancel obviously illegal acts, coordinate work of region heads. The vice-premier also proposed ministers to be authorized to initiate dismissals of officials appointed to supervise structures violating the law.
Governor of the Kirov Region, Nikita Belykh, said that it is time for the government and society to work together on social changes in the state. Belykh emphasized that they are at a start of a new political cycle. The has got to be a dialogue with society. The society needs to hear the government’s proposals and ideas to form the power and set clear goals.
Valentina Matviyenko, former Governor of Saint-Petersburg, Chairwoman of the Federal Assembly, said that the president’s envoys to districts are outdated and need to be reformed. Perhaps the Ministry for Regional Development should open offices to replace the plenipotentiary envoys, she says. Or ministers for territorial administration should be introduced with clear functions and authority. They would realize federal purpose programs in regions, investment programs and development of territories.
Concluding the talks, Dmitry Medvedev proposed the program for distribution of authority to be discussed among business officials and ordinary civilians.
