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Those three "power" blocs couldn't "dominate" this one carrier task force! |
Posted on 12/12/2004 9:31:42 AM PST by nypokerface
MOSCOW - President Vladimir Putin signed a bill Sunday to end the election of governors by popular vote, while more than 1,000 opposition activists converged on Constitution Day to denounce what they called his increasingly authoritarian rule.
Putin notably chose Sunday to sign one of two measures that critics say could violate Russia's constitution, which was adopted in 1993 under his predecessor, Boris Yeltsin, and was considered one of the main democratic achievements of Yeltsin's rule.
The Federation Council, or upper house of parliament, gave the measure the final stamp of legislative approval on Wednesday with a vote of 145-1.
Putin on Sunday also denied he seeks to change the constitution — a concern raised by critics who fear his administration might seek amendments to keep him in power past 2008. The constititution allows only two consecutive four-year terms.
The new law gives the president the right to appoint governors, who would then be confirmed by regional legislatures. Russia consists of 89 regions, whose leaders are currently chosen by popular election.
Under the law, if lawmakers reject the president's candidate twice, he could make a new nomination, appoint an acting governor or dissolve the legislature. If a candidate is rejected for the third time, the president can dissolve the legislature without waiting for consultations to play out.
The other main proposal, which would end the election of direct election of national lawmakers, is also expected to receive swift parliamentary approval.
Putin proposed the changes in the wake of terrorist attacks last summer that killed more than 450 people, saying the reforms would enable better security. However, the changes have alarmed opposition parties and human rights monitors.
On Sunday, more than 1,000 activists, politicians and prominent Kremlin critics gathered at the opening of the All-Russian Civil Congress for Democracy and Against Dictatorship. The meeting made for an unusual alliance of liberals and communists.
"These are all very different people, but we have been united by one common concern — the authorities' outright encroachment on our rights," said respected rights activist Lyudmila Alexeyeva.
"If we don't show solidarity in defending our rights, we will lose every single one of them," said Alexeyeva, head of the Moscow Helsinki Group.
Yevgeny Kiselyov, a prominent journalist, criticized a bill that would scrap the Constitution Day holiday starting next year. He said the bill, to which lawmakers gave preliminary approval last month, was a Kremlin effort to downplay the importance of the constitution in order to make changing it easier.
Critics have expressed concern that the Kremlin, making use of the loyal parliament, might initiate a constitutional amendment enabling Putin to stay in power after his second and final term in office ends in 2008.
"The choice is simple: in a couple of years, we will be left with either this constitution or these authorities," said Garry Kasparov, a world chess champion and a member of liberal opposition group. "I choose the constitution."
Meeting with Constitutional Court justices on Sunday, Putin said the Kremlin has no plans to alter the constitution. He noted that the court has the power to interpret articles of the constitution.
"This does not at all mean that we are getting ready to somehow change the constitution or make corrections. Such a task does not stand before us; we have no such plans," he said in televised comments.
However, he did not rule out changes.
The bad old days are coming back.
Have there ever been any Russian Czar's named Vladimir?
As somebody who has to work with regional authorities in Russia, I welcome these reforms. Russia is essentially adopting the French/Dutch model. The Russian law on governors was copied almost word for word from the Dutch one.
That's alright because Bush looked into his soul and saw a good man. And there are people that continue to defend Bush's naivete! Pooty Poot is his man.
Well I guess the example of the Clinton adminstration and its quest for absolute power, gave Putin too many ideas (chuckle). Reno and Slick almost pulled it off, but Putin is going about it differently. Somewhat differently that is.
The name of the famous bar drink "Black Russian" is starting to have a new meaning...
Pootie-Poot ping!
Excerpt:
MOSCOW - President Vladimir Putin signed a bill Sunday to end the election of governors by popular vote, while more than 1,000 opposition activists converged on Constitution Day to denounce what they called his increasingly authoritarian rule.
Putin notably chose Sunday to sign one of two measures that critics say could violate Russia's constitution, which was adopted in 1993 under his predecessor, Boris Yeltsin, and was considered one of the main democratic achievements of Yeltsin's rule.
The Federation Council, or upper house of parliament, gave the measure the final stamp of legislative approval on Wednesday with a vote of 145-1.
Putin on Sunday also denied he seeks to change the constitution — a concern raised by critics who fear his administration might seek amendments to keep him in power past 2008. The constititution allows only two consecutive four-year terms.
The new law gives the president the right to appoint governors, who would then be confirmed by regional legislatures. Russia consists of 89 regions, whose leaders are currently chosen by popular election.
Under the law, if lawmakers reject the president's candidate twice, he could make a new nomination, appoint an acting governor or dissolve the legislature. If a candidate is rejected for the third time, the president can dissolve the legislature without waiting for consultations to play out.
Up until now I defended Putin for saying what was on his mind and opposing western meddling. This, is outrageous. But there is a little voice in my head that says the US does the same sort of thing when we violate states rights and allow our Constitution to be twisted.
After 9-11 and 2 1/2 to 3 years ago the President gave Putin a large amount of benefit of the doubt. He tried to give ample room for a relationship to possibily develop, as well as a Putin's role in what was hoped would be ongoing democratization in Russia. So Putin could be a leader instead of a thuggish tinhorn despot.
It's Putin that unfortuantely has chosen the path he's on. That doesn't mean the President was wrong to show him courtesy and to try to work with him early on in the first part of his first term. I anticipate hopes faded in the WH as to Pooty quite a while ago. We're just seeing it more now as Putin is pulling his shenanigans. Still, it was worth a shot. Nothing has been lost for us.
Somebody is pulling Putins strings I believe. Could be China, Soviet remnants or even Iran. That's what should claim our attention and concentation at this point.
Appointing the local executives from the capital (with the approval from the local legislature) is not different from the many other Western countries (same with the party system of voting). Russia needs to establish some order and not to slide into anarchy as she was doing under Yeltsin.
De Gaulle who introduced similar reforms in France is counted among the greatest statesmen. Was the creating of the Fifth Republic "outrageous"?
Do you guys really believe that break-up of Russia would be a good thing? It might lead to the world dominated by the three empires: Eurasia (EU absorbing the pieces of Russia and so protected by the wast land space), Eastasia (based on large and disciplined populations in the Far East and Oceania (based on the sea power).
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Those three "power" blocs couldn't "dominate" this one carrier task force! |
The US States are little more than administrative districts of the federal government. Whether we elect our governors or they are appointed, their hands are similarly tied by the federal government, their abilities to tax are affected by the effects of huge federal taxes, and their abilities to spend are affected by how the feds choose to dole money back to the states.
I'm not so sure why FReepers are so worked up about what is going on in Russia, while ignoring the problems in their own backyard.
You meant "two", blocks, I suppose. Thank you for illustrating my (Orwell's) point. Indeed, Oceania will be based on the superior sea power.
Meet the new Czar same as the old Czar.
The "bad old days" never really disappeared, Russia has always been an oppressive totalitarian nation, they just decided to stop using communism as a cover story.
What would lead you to believe Russia might break up? The way I see it, Russia has never been more cohesive than during the period since WW2. Now I do not agree with any of the methods used. Simply put, as compared with the social environment of 100 or more years ago, Russia today is in no danger of breaking up. What a red herring (no pun intended).
"Have there ever been any Russian Czar's named Vladimir?"
Don't think so - this will be Vlad I
Even though the communists officially hated all the Czars Stalin had a lot of respect for Ivan The Terrible. I wonder who Putin looks up to as a role model.
Putin's grandfather was Stalin's chef and traveled everywhere with Stalin. Putin has said his grandfather never spoke of his experiences to him. One wonders exactly where Vlad comes down. I have no reason to believe it but I have a notion Putin has a certain amount of respect for Stalin.
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