Democracy on top of Medvedev’s agenda
In his state-of-the-nation speech today, President Dmitrii Medvedev made democracy development his top priority for Russia. In the speech considered the president’s annual programme document, he also announced several changes in the Russian political system.
The speech held today in one of the great halls of the Kremlin, lasted 85 minutes. It was halted 56 times by applause from the audience, Newsru.com reports.
Liberal values
In the speech, available on the president website, the president confirmed that he is a proponent of liberal values.
-Our values also shape our ideas about the future. We strive towards a just society of free people, he underlined, adding that freedom is a key in his presidency.
-This is a freedom, a personal and individual freedom, he said. –The freedom to do business, freedom of speech, faith, place of residence and work. This is a common freedom, a national freedom, he said, adding that it is also the freedom of Russia as an independent state.
-The life of the individual, his prosperity and dignity, the president continued. – The international world, the unity and diversity of the cultures, protection of minorities, he said.
Democracy
-We know that Russia will be a flourishing democratic country, he highlighted. –Powerful and at the same time comfortable for the people. The best in the world with the most talented, demanding, independent and critically-minded citizens, he said.
He also underlined that “Russian democratic institutes must be strengthened in all social layers of society” and that the process must not be postponed.
Political reforms
In the speech, President Medvedev also announced several political reforms, among them a proposal on the extension of the presidential term from four to six years and the term of the State Duma deputies from four to five years.
He also wants to extend the powers of the legislative assembly with increase control powers over the executive level of power.
The change will require amendments in the Constitution.
Also the upper chamber of parliament, the Federation Council, will undergo reforms. Medvedev wants the council, the federal subjects’ legislative body in Moscow, to have only elected members. In the future, only representatives from the respective region’s parliament or municipal councils, can get seats in the Federation Council. Today, the governors are free to appoint representatives to the council.
Regarding relations between Moscow and the regions, the president also admitted that the best solution on federal representation in the regions remains to be found. He believes that there are far too many federal officials working in the regions.
International affairs
Commenting on current world affairs, the Russian president maintained that the USA is to blame for the financial crisis.
He called for “radical reforms in the world economic and political system. He also reiterated his proposal on the establishment of a new European security treaty, arguing that this would create clear and understandable rules of international conduct.
