OREANDA-NEWS. Vladimir Putin met with leaders of the political parties represented in the State Duma: United Russia, A Just Russia, the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, and the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia.

Subjects discussed at the meeting included the State Duma’s current legislative work and preparations for elections at various levels in the regions in September.

Before the start of the meeting, the President and the parliamentary party leaders looked over the Olympic facilities under construction in Sochi.

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PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA VLADIMIR PUTIN: Good afternoon colleagues. We are continuing our tradition of regular meetings with the leaders of the parties represented in the State Duma.

Last time we met was during preparations for the [Annual Presidential] Address to the Federal Assembly. We discussed a number of top priority laws on that occasion. I want to thank all of the parliamentary parties for taking an active part in examining what were then still draft laws and making proposals and amendments.

I particularly note the consolidated support for the anti-corruption draft laws. They include the law on expense controls that has already come into force now. On July 1, 2013 we will see the first results of the law’s application and will be able to analyse how it is working. If required, we will make the necessary adjustments. Recent laws in this area also include the ban on having bank accounts in foreign banks or holding foreign companies’ securities. This law, as you know, has been signed now.

These laws are part of the work to put into place what will be for the public a more stringent and transparent new set of political and legal conditions for state officials at all levels and also for State Duma deputies and members of the Council of Federation. Some of them have already made the voluntary choice to step down before these measures come into legal effect.

I think this is completely normal and is the right and honest choice. It is a case of choosing what is closer to your heart. If someone wants to be in business and does not want to be subject to any restrictions on foreign bank accounts and foreign securities, this is the choice to make. This is perfectly normal and I think it is a choice that deserves respect.

Let me mention another important draft law – the law on the Accounts Chamber, which expands the auditors’ powers. One important point here is that the consolidated proposals from the parliamentary parties will be taken into account by the State Duma’s council in selecting the Accounts Chamber’s personnel. Thus, the opinion of all parties represented in the State Duma will be heard. I expect you to make proposals regarding personnel.

I want to thank you for supporting the draft law on elections of State Duma deputies. This is the draft law that introduces a mixed electoral system. These were in fact your proposals, which were then drafted into legal form.

I hope that the introduction of single-mandate districts will help to make government and its representatives more accountable to their own voters, will strengthen government at the local level, and bring interesting new people and leaders into politics. I know that the draft law is due for its second reading soon and the political parties have proposals of substance to make. Let’s discuss these proposals today.

Work is also nearing completion on the draft law that increases the regions’ and the public’s role in forming the Civic Chamber. It is important that internet voting has been taken into account in the draft law. This is a rapidly developing, effective and much-needed channel of communication with the public. We have had positive results with its use. The Council for Human Rights is using it now through the Russian Public Initiative portal, which is already up and running.

Let me say a few words about the upcoming regional elections. They will take place under new procedures seeing as the regions now have the right to choose themselves what electoral system they will use for electing the regional heads. I expect (with good reason) that most regions will choose the current system of direct vote by citizens.

But at the same time, I think that we should respect regional particularities, especially in the ethnic-based republics, where several titular ethnic groups are represented and live together. We are to take their specific situations into consideration. If regions make use of these possibilities, the regional heads chosen through these procedures will have all the same rights and responsibilities of course, and we – myself included - will treat them as equal in every way in their office as heads of their regions.

The single voting day will also be the first opportunity to test the new procedures for forming the Council of Federation. Under the new system, future members of the upper house of parliament delegated by the regional executive authorities will all have to go through the procedure of elections in the teams of candidates running for regional governor.

I hope that our work together will create the conditions for getting our people more actively involved in the country’s political life, develop a responsible administrative team focused on the country’s good and working above all for Russia’s people and society, and will help parties, including new parties, to promote their candidates into senior office in the regions and then at the federal level.