Press release, 02.09.2016
On August 31, parliamentary candidate Galina Shirshina visited Saratov. She supported the Smart Saratov electoral programme developed by the Saratov branch of YABLOKO, participated in a press conference, and had a meeting with voters.

The Smart Saratov programme was launched at the final stage of the regional conference of the party. The programme was designed for the elections to the city parliament. The top three candidates are: Chair of the Saratov branch of YABLOKO Dmitry Konnychev, Chair of the local party branch in Saratov Alexander Yermishin, and non-party candidate Olga Pitsunova.

The programme is devoted to the development of the city for the period of next five years. The programme was created by both the expert community and local residents. The document will be available online.

There are 12 components devoted to provision of urban amenities, architecture, environment, transport system, social policy, and local self-government on the programme.

In his speech Dmitry Konnichev made a stand for direct mayoral elections.

“The root of all problems is that the residents are underestimated. If they do not elect their representatives, there will be no trust for the government and no development. Therefore, YABLOKO stands for direct mayoral elections since 2006, I am glad that this stance can be found in the federal electoral programme of the party.

The delegates of the conference unanimously voted for adoption of the programme.

Galina Shirshina also supported the programme. “I realise the responsibility that you are taking by adopting this document,” she said.

She shared her experience in creating the programme for development of Petrozavodsk. “The main thing for a mayor is to work for the residents,” she noted.

The participants of the conference and journalists asked Galina Shirshina to comment on withdrawal of YABLOKO’s list of candidates from the election to the Petrozavodsk City Council.

“We realise that we are real rivals, and the Rodina party has nothing to do with that. We have a strong team and strong candidates in single-mandate constituencies, our opponents are trying to withdraw them from the election as well. Yes, our list of candidates was withdrawn from the election but we will find a way to bring our voters to the polling stations and give them an opportunity to vote for decent candidates. And we will appeal the decision to a higher court, of course. I want to do all in my power to elect a different composition of the city council,” she explained.

Galina Sharshina also participated in a press conference.

“Today YABLOKO has over 2000 candidates who are on the party’s lists of candidates and who are running in single-mandate constituencies. 30 per cent of the nominees are under 35. It means that young people are interested in YABLOKO. 20 per cent of candidates are involved in business. These entrepreneurs have to work under rough conditions but they support YABLOKO because we are real opposition. 5 per cent of our nominees are representatives of non-commercial organisations. It is very important to us since very often public activists have profound knowledge in different spheres,” Shirshina said.

Galina Shirshina noted that YABLOKO had already designed 140 bills to introduce for consideration of the parliament.

The politician also had a meeting with voters and told them about her achievements as mayor of Petrozavodsk.