Press Release, 28.12.2022

Photo: Maxim Kruglov / Photo by the Yabloko Press Service

Maxim Kruglov, head of the Yabloko faction in the Moscow City Duma, proposed to make members of the Moscow Government, heads of sectoral and functional executive bodies of Moscow, and local governments report annually to the Moscow City Duma on their work. Amendments to the Charter of Moscow were considered at the meeting of the Moscow City Duma on 28 December. The parliamentary majority, consisting of pro-government United Russia and My Moscow factions, did not want to take on additional powers to control the executive branch power in Moscow.

The bill proposed to expand the list of powers of the Moscow City Duma, including hearing information about the activities of local governments, as well as officials of the Moscow government. Kruglov justified the need to additionally hear representatives of the Moscow government by the fact that local self-government bodies in Moscow do not solve supply issues in the housing and utilities services sector, are not engaged in urban planning, land and roads development, landscaping, transport services, medical care, and educational services. These and many other tasks are solved by the authorities of Moscow.

Maxim Kruglov notes that although the Charter of Moscow provides for an annual report by the Mayor on the work of the government, this is clearly not enough. First, the Mayor’s report provides general information and limited in time. Second, the existing procedure is deprived of the opportunity to hold a public discussion: the Mayor answers only three questions from each faction, which must be sent to him in advance. In addition, officials avoid participation in round tables and meetings of working commissions, to which they are invited by deputies.

According to Kruglov, the introduction of annual reports of officials to the Moscow Parliament will ensure the effective exercise by the Moscow City Duma of its control function, increase the effectiveness of interaction between the legislative and the executive branches of government, legislative activity and ensure the constitutional rights and freedoms of citizens.

Representatives of all factions and independent deputies, except for parliamentarians from United Russia and the My Moscow association, took part in the discussion of the bill of the deputy from Yabloko. The parliamentary majority did not participate in the voting either, and the bill of Maxim Kruglov, having received the support of almost all the deputies present in the hall, did not get the required number of votes to be adopted in the first reading.

MAXIM KRUGLOV

is a member of the Federal Bureau of the Yabloko Party,

Deputy Chairman of the Moscow branch of Yabloko.

Head of the Yabloko faction in the Moscow City Duma. Candidate of Political Sciences.