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The St Petersburg
branch of Yabloko proposes that the Union of Right-Wing
Forces agree on candidates for by-elections to the Legislative
Assembly of St Petersburg
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The St.Petersburg branch of Yabloko has suggested that
the Union of Right-Wing Forces (SPS) agree on candidates
in two electoral districts for by-elections to the Legislative
Assembly of St Petersburg scheduled for May 14, 2000.
The decision to submit this proposal to the SPS was taken
by the Political Board of Yabloko’s St Petersburg branch
at their meeting on February 15, 2000. The by-elections
of deputies to the Legislative Assembly of St Petersburg
in the 21st and 31st electoral districts are to be held
due to the deaths of the deputies from these districts,
Mikhail Pirogov and Viktor Novosyolov.
According to Alexander Shishlov, deputy of the State Duma
and Chairman of the Political Board of Yabloko’s St Petersburg
branch, today the situation in the Legislative Assembly
of St Petersburg “is such that a single vote can influence
the adoption of decisions that are most important for the
city”.
According to Shishlov, the election of “two new deputies
that believe in the principles of democracy, law and order
may help to radically change the present situation and extricate
the work of the Assembly from the present deadlock.” He
also stressed that Yabloko proposes that the SPS agree on
potential candidates over the next few weeks. Yabloko’s
candidates to the Legislative Assembly of St Petersburg
will be approved at a conference of Yabloko’s St Petersburg
branch, to be held on February 26.
Under the Charter of the city, the Legislative Assembly
of St Petersburg comprises 50 deputies elected in single-mandate
electoral districts.
Based on Interfax reports
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Yabloko’s leader
Grigory Yavlinsky thinks that the election of Vladimir Lukin
as Deputy Speaker of the Duma has bolstered parliament significantly.
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The leader of the Yabloko faction, Grigory Yavlinsky, thinks
that electing Vladimir Lukin Deputy Speaker of the Duma
has bolstered parliament's position significantly.
"Now the post of Deputy Speaker has been assumed by a
real professional, who will be able to replace the present
Head of the Duma (communist Gennadi Selyeznyov) any time
and for any term,” noted Grigory Yavlinsky.
With a required minimum of 226 votes, Vladimir Lukin received
240 votes. In addition 98 deputies voted against, while
7 abstained.
Last week in a similar vote Lukin failed to obtain the
necessary number of votes to be elected Deputy Speaker.
However, the Yabloko faction continued to insist on Lukin’s
candidacy as a Deputy Chairman of the Duma.
Vladimir Lukin, who previously headed the Committee for
International Affairs in the State Duma of the previous
convocation, will be responsible for problems connected,
first and foremost, to the activity of this committee. Here
are Vladimir Lukin’s comments on this issue, “It would be
very strange, if they put me in charge of agrarian issues”.
Based on Interfax reports.
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