On June 28, 2002, draft law "On the procedure for forming the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation" prepared by deputies of the Yabloko faction Sergei Ivanenko, Igor Artemyev and Sergei Mitrokhin was submitted to the State Duma.

The draft law includes the following key proposals:

The Federation Council should be formed on the basis of elections on the basis of universal, equal and direct franchise; Candidates to the Federation Council are nominated by the head of the regional executive authority or the legislative (representative) authority of the federation subject on an alternative basis, including proposals from political parties; Elections of the member of the Federation Council from each subject of the Russian Federation are appointed by the President.

Deputies from the Yabloko faction think that in its present form the Federation Council does not represent the interests of the regions. "Many members of the Federation Council today make no attempt to hide their true motives: to defend in the upper chamber the interests of corporations and financial-industrial groups," noted Sergei Mitrokhin.

The procedure for forming the Federation Council proposed by the draft law does not require any changes to the Constitution of the Russian Federation.

The draft law provides a detailed procedure for forming electoral districts, polling stations, the creation of electoral lists, financing of elections, propaganda campaigns, voting and determining the results of the election.

This law is 170 pages long.

One of the programme provisions of the Russian Democratic Party YABLOKO is to achieve direct election of the upper chamber of the Russian parliament.

See also:

YABLOKO wants to change the procedure for forming the Federation Council
Commersant, June 28, 2002