Press Release, 29.03.2021

Photo: The first stage of the 21st Yabloko congress, December 2019 /Photo by the Yabloko party Press Service

This weekend, on  3 – 4 April, a Congress of the Yabloko party will take place in Moscow. The Congress will discuss the reform of the party and approve appropriate amendments to the party by-laws.

The goal of the reform is transformation of Yabloko into an effective professional, and at the same time ideological party with clear political principles, massive participation and the involvement of a significant number of supporters in its activities. The reform will launch mechanisms for renewing the party and increasing the influence of rank-and-file members on the decision-making process.

It is expected that the Congress will introduce the following norms into the Yabloko by-laws:

– party-wide primaries in determining candidates for presidential, gubernatorial, and mayoral elections, as well as top candidates on the party candidates lists;

– general party voting in determining candidates for the post of chairs of the whole party and its regional branches;

– registration of party supporters who, along with party members, will participate in the primaries;

– limiting the term of the Chairman of a regional organisation to eight years, which will stimulate the rotation of regional leaders;

– introduction of a probation period and recommendations for the applicants who wish to join the party as a guarantee against raidership and takeovers;

– increasing discipline and activity of party members by introducing a Code of Ethics and responsibility of party members.

Due to epidemiological restrictions, all those wishing to follow the work of the Congress will be able to do it via video broadcast on the party’s Youtube channel.