17 June 2004 06:40
Communists Seek Referendum Over Kremlin`s Social Reforms
The Communist Party said Wednesday that it will seek a national referendum on a Kremlin plan to replace healthcare
and transportation benefits for low-income groups with cash payments.
"We are going to start the process for a referendum in the upcoming weeks, no matter which obstacles will be
erected in our way," deputy Communist leader Ivan Melnikov said at a news conference, Interfax reported.
The obstacles Melnikov was referring to are probably Kremlin-backed plans to introduce tough new rules for calling
national referenda. The State Duma passed an amendment to the Constitution on Friday that would require the Communists
to enlist considerable support from a number of regions to call a referendum. They would also have to collect 2 million
signatures of support within 45 days and submit them to the Central Elections Commission.
The amendment still needs to be approved by the Federation Council and three-fourths of the 89 regional legislative
assemblies before it can be submitted to President Vladimir Putin to be signed into law. The Central Elections
Commission has said it expects Putin to sign the bill by July 14.
Critics say the amendment aims to prevent opposition-minded parties like the Communists from calling anti-Kremlin
referenda as it introduces controversial social and housing reforms this year.
A Kremlin-backed bill to overhaul benefits to low-income groups such as retirees, veterans and the disabled was
approved by the Duma in a first reading last week. Protest rallies were held around the country the day it was
passed.
Melnikov said the plan will affect the interests of some 100 million of the country's population of 145
million.
The Communist Party saw its number of seats in the Duma shrink in parliamentary elections last fall, prompting some
senior members to question the leadership skills of party leader Gennady Zyuganov.
Zyuganov told reporters Wednesday, however, that he is confident that he will be re-elected leader at a party
congress in early July.
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[The Moscow Times] |
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