#8 - JRL 8382 - JRL Home
Date: Fri, 24 Sep 2004
From: "Nicolai N. Petro" <kolya@uri.edu>
Subject: On Putin's proposed governmental reforms

I have always found Lev Sigal's legal and political analysis on the pages of Russkii zhurnal to be very enlightening.

In his latest posting, “The Russian Model of State Unity,” (http://www.russ.ru/culture/upravo/20040921.html), he points out that what Putin is proposing is best described as a milder form of Yeltsin’s gubernatorial appointment system; i.e.., appointment of the governor based on local nomination of candidate(s), rather than appointment with (implicit) consent of the local population. The procedure for such nominations, as he points out, can be more or less transparent, more or less competitive.

Unlike Yeltsin’s time, however, when regional legislative institutions were barely functioning, today they are an established part of the local political landscape. Under Yeltsin the implicit consent called for had no vehicle for expression, now it does. Moreover, should the President’s proposals pass constitutional muster, Article 77, para 1 of the constitution suggests that it will be up to each regional legislature to decide which of these two forms of constraint--nomination or veto--is the most appropriate for that region.

Sigal also notes that opinions on the appropriateness of legislative election exclusively by party slate reflect differences of opinion on the relative merits of a proportional and a majoritarian, or “first-past-the-post” electoral system. In 1993 Russia chose to combine the two for elections to it lower house. This, however, dilutes the national political mandate of parties and weakens their ability to set the parliament’s agenda, making a true parliamentary form of government with ministerial accountability to the parliament nearly impossible. A proportional system, therefore, is a necessary step toward parliamentary government.

Clearly, the proposals made by President Putin could evolve any number of ways. It is worth pointing out, however, that some of these ways could actually enhance the effectiveness of Russia’s elected bodies, and thereby help to achieve what Putin has set as his major goal after the Beslan tragedy--the strengthening of Russian civic unity and civil society.

With best wishes, Professor Nicolai N. Petro Department of Political Science Washburn Hall, Univ. of Rhode Island Kingston, RI 02881 (USA) Voice: 401.874.2290 | Fax: 208.693.5200 | Web: http://www.npetro.net My new book, Crafting Democracy, is now available.