United Russia told their power won’t last forever
President Dmitry Medvedev yesterday told United Russia to prepare for challenges to its rule, suggesting that the Kremlin was ready to ease its grip on the regions to try to defuse social tension.
- United Russia is the leading political party now, but this situation won’t last forever, Medvedev told United Russia leaders at his Black Sea residence yesterday, Moscow Times reports.
A relaxation of the Kremlin’s hold over the regions can be seen a response to growing social tension and designed to create a safety valve for resentment toward Moscow.
Medvedev told United Russia leaders that changes to the rules for nominating governors were intended to make the process more transparent and give local political parties a bigger say.
Under the law as it stands, the president nominates the heads of 85 Russian regions for subsequent approval by local legislatures. The latest amendments mean that the local majority party rather than Kremlin envoys would present candidates for nomination.
Medvedev has said the country needs a more flexible political system. He has ordered a lowering of the threshold of votes needed to earn a seat in the parliament and giving opposition parties greater opportunities to win seats.
