The Yabloko faction of the State Duma will not support the draft law “On Mandatory Liability Insurance for Car Owners” at the review of the draft in the second reading on March 13, 2002.

The faction thinks that it is inadmissible to increase the tax burden of the population, especially in view of the present low level of incomes. The deputies stated that by introducing mandatory liability insurance for car owners the initiators of the draft are imposing a new tax on millions of Russian citizens.

The draft law envisages that all car owners must insure their liability for damage; whereas the owners have to insure their liability at private (non-governmental) insurance companies. The RF Government will set insurance tariffs. In the meantime, while imposing another tax on the citizens, the Government does not guarantee insurers’ obligations.

There are all the grounds to assume that the maximum reimbursement of the damage by the insuring companies envisaged in the draft (damage to an individual – ceiling 240,000 roubles; damage to property - ceiling of 160,000 roubles) will not really satisfy the victims who usually take their cases to court.

The present draft law reflects the interests of neither social group nor the population of the country in general. Only commercial insurance companies and persons tied with them, i.e. ardent lobbyists of the draft, will profit from such a law.

The Yabloko faction also thinks that draft laws directly affecting the lives and welfare of millions of people should be published so that society has the time to express its opinion on such drafts.

One of the principle clauses of the programme of the Russian Democratic Party YABLOKO is to act in the interests of the majority of Russia’s population. The Yabloko faction in the State Duma also shares this view.

See also:

RIA "OREANDA". March 13, 2002. The Yabloko faction will not support the draft law “On Mandatory Liability Insurance for Car Owners”.