Press Release, 4.03.2021

On 3 March, Nezavisimaya Gazeta published an article on the reform of the Yabloko party. The text by Darya Garmonenko, like many other texts by this author, is replete with errors and distortions. We publish the full text of the commentary of the Deputy Chairman of the party Ivan Bolshakov:

– The goal of the reform is to transform Yabloko into an efficient professional, but at the same time ideological party with clear political principles, massive membership and involvement of a significant number of supporters in its activities. The reform will launch mechanisms to renew the party and increase the influence of rank-and-file members on the decision-making process.

Participation in the party will be diversified during the reform – members and supporters will be able to choose the degree of their involvement in the activities of the party.

Yabloko will retain registered (those who have the right to vote and can be elected to governing bodies) and unregistered party members (they have all the rights of a party member, but cannot vote and be elected). At the same time, the procedure for joining the party will be changed – a probation period for obtaining the status of a registered party member will be introduced.

Also  the status of supporter will be introduced. Citizens who share the values ​​of the party are invited to register in this capacity, and then they will be able to vote in the primaries. For this, it is necessary to share the values indicated in Political Memorandum of Yabloko and vote for the party in the elections.

It is proposed to develop the practice of primaries in determining candidates for presidential, gubernatorial and mayoral elections, and top candidates of the party lists, as well as the practice of debates and general party discussions.

The reform of the party includes the introduction of a preliminary general party vote when choosing a party chairperson – all Yabloko members will be able to vote.

Advisors may also appear in the party. This status is not a stepping stone in the party structure. This is an encouragement for longtime Yabloko members who will have the opportunity to speak at meetings and have a deliberative vote.

It is planned to create a new institution – the Supreme Council. It will include party members over 65 who have been in the governing bodies for several terms. This is an advisory body created with the aim of renewing the party, in order to make way for the young.

Members of the Supreme Council can exercise their veto, but it will be suspended and applied only in exceptional cases – on major political issues, if the governing bodies of Yabloko take a decision that runs counter to the main principles and values ​​of the party. This does not apply to issues of personnel policy and development of the party structure.

The governing bodies in the party will remain the Political Committee, the Federal Bureau and the Executive Committee, which will deal with current political work and make major decisions. Their powers will be specified in the course of the reform.

The Supreme Council will not stand above the governing bodies, but will appear within the framework of the horizontal division of powers in the party. For the same purpose, it is planned to strengthen the Party Arbitration.

In addition, it is planned to spread the practices of limiting the terms of office on the leaders of regional branches of the party and members of the federal governing bodies of the party.

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The concept of the reform will be discussed at the congress scheduled to be held in Moscow on April 3 – 4. It is expected that the congress will make the necessary amendments to the party By-Laws.