Currently, Russia does not have conditions for direct democratic election of executive power bodies

Thursday, March 4, 2021

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Currently, Russia does not have conditions for direct democratic election of executive power bodies, believes head of the Russian Central Election Committee Alexander Veshnyakov. "Are there ideal conditions for direct democracy in the sphere of forming executive power bodies? I don't think so, but there are real threats used cunningly and remorsefully by terrorists," he told journalists explaining the necessity of changes to the process of regional governors' elections. Mr. Veshnyakov emphasized that many foreign countries use the principle of indirect vote in order to avoid possible mistakes, "which any immature society might commit." He mentioned the presidential election campaign in the United States as an example. Until recently, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland did not have the right to form their respective executive power bodies at all, Mr. Veshnyakov underlined. In his opinion, the legislative initiative to change the mechanism of governors' election do not contradict the Constitution; however, some aspects of the process must be discussed and revised. "We must finally make a transition from a general talk to concrete discussions of the norms of the proposed draft," the chairman of the Central Election Committee said. Mr. Veshnyakov urged to safeguard the fundamental principles of the Constitution even during the discussion of changes in the mechanism of presidential elections. "We must preserve the Constitution, which worked for us for the last 10 years, for another 10 years, at least," said Mr. Veshnyakov answering a question about the possibility of applying the new mechanism of governors' elections to the federal level, including to presidential elections. "The answer to the question whether we should or should not elect the President is clear - we must not change anything. It is postulated by our Constitution," he stressed

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