RUSSIAN DUMA TAKES ON AGGRESSIVE AGENDA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MOSCOW 000102 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KDEM RS SUBJECT: RUSSIAN DUMA TAKES ON AGGRESSIVE AGENDA REF: 07 MOSCOW 5682 -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (U) The Duma has planned an aggressive legislative agenda for its spring session. The lower body of parliament has decided that more than 600 bills will be considered by its committees during the session that runs through July. Of these bills, a much smaller number are considered to be high priority. Quality of life issues are expected to dominate the session with pension reform, an increase in wages for government employees and other social issues leading the way; issues emphasized by Putin during the Duma campaign. Among the bills to be considered is one that would establish presidential libraries for Russian presidents since the fall of the Soviet Union. The Duma plans a new "Government Hour" during which officials will respond to questions from Duma deputies. End summary. -------------- DUMA TO CONSIDER HUNDREDS OF BILLS -------------- ¶2. (U) The Duma, which began its legislative work on January 11, is scheduled to consider more than 600 bills during its spring legislative session which runs through July. Of the 651 bills proposed so far, more than 30 are considered to be high priority. Most of these bills were submitted by the government and two were submitted by the presidential administration. Under Russian law, bills can originate within the Duma or Federation Council or they can come from the Kremlin or government. According to news reports, Deputy Speaker Oleg Morozov said six bills involve "state and constitutional structure," eight concern the economy, eight are budget-related and eight deal with defense and security. Quality of life issues will be a major focus during this session. Pension reform and increasing salaries for government employees and payments to military personnel are expected to be considered and approved early in the session. Other bills regarding water issues, prevention of homelessness and third party car insurance are also expected to be taken up during the session. ¶3. (U) The Duma's legislative focus is expected to follow the course set by Putin which he laid out in a speech to the United Russia Congress in October. In his remarks, Putin emphasized the need to increase salaries of government employees, increase payments to military personnel and examine the pensions of military retirees. Duma Speaker Boris Gryzlov has noted with dismay that the Duma is ready to pass bills to accomplish these things but that the government has not yet submitted the necessary draft laws. ¶4. (U) The Communist faction, the only opposition faction in the Duma, has expressed its dissatisfaction with the agenda. Vice Speaker and Communist faction member Ivan Melnikov, told the media "the agenda is missing a whole row of important legislation," specifically citing draft laws on corruption, progressive income taxation and changes to the laws on water and forestry which are intended to "stop the stealing of natural resources." ¶5. (U) A draft law backed by Federation Council Speaker Sergey Mironov and other members of the Just Russia party, would establish presidential libraries for heads of state following the end of the Soviet Union. The libraries would serve as a repository for presidential papers and other memorabilia. The Kremlin has not commented on the idea. -------------- DUMA COMMITTEES -------------- ¶6. (U) Members of the United Russia faction, which holds a constitutional majority in the Duma (315 of 450 seats),will lead 26 of 32 Duma committees (reftel). Of the 35 posts of first deputy committee chair, four were given to members of parties in the minority (2 to the Communist Party, 1 to the Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR) and 1 to Just Russia.) Of the 107 deputy committee chairmanships, 36 will go to members of minority parties. A commentator in Vedomosti noted that an enticing aspect of these positions is the right to a personal car. ¶7. (U) Despite the fact that the Duma session is underway, the leadership is still working on committee assignments. This unfinished piece of business has been a major irritant for some Duma deputies. Until they are assigned to a committee, they are without an office. Offices are assigned MOSCOW 00000102 002 OF 002 based on proximity to the committees on which deputies serve. -------------- NEW "GOVERNMENT HOUR" TO BE LAUNCHED -------------- ¶8. (U) A new feature to be added to the work of the Duma will be a regularly scheduled "Government Hour" during which officials of the executive branch will answer questions posed by deputies. The idea was initiated by Communist Party faction member Anatoly Lokot, who expressed interest in questioning Prime Minister Zubkov about inflation. Another member of the party has stated she would like to question ministers about social reforms. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶9. (SBU) As the Duma sets out on an aggressive course of lawmaking, the path it follows will be determined by the Kremlin. While there will be some expressions of dissent from the Communist faction and the voice of LDPR leader Zhirinovskiy will be heard often, United Russia's constitutional majority guarantees that any legislation it takes up will pass with limited debate. BURNS