#5 - JRL 9153 - JRL Home
Moscow Times
May 19, 2005
Putin Pledges Equal Access to State Media
By Francesca Mereu
Staff Writer

President Vladimir Putin confirmed on Wednesday his commitment to giving political parties "equal access" to the state media and to giving parties a say in the selection of governors -- issues that he raised in his state of the nation address last month.

But state media did not say whether Putin, who spoke at a closed meeting with State Duma and Federation Council leaders, offered any new details about either proposal.

In an apparent attempt to ease Western concerns about the state of Russian democracy and the media, Putin said all parties will be given equal access to the state media.

"We will work with representatives of the state media. Our aim is to guarantee equal access to state media by all political forces," Putin said.

He did not explain what "equal access" meant and which of the scores of political movements would qualify for equal access.

Putin said it is good that society has different points of view. "This is normal and natural, as it should be in any democratic government," he said.

Putin added that "the preservation of Russia's sovereignty, democratic development and economic growth and the upholding of human rights" are the "basic goals that are shared by all social and political forces in the country."

"On this foundation we can and should achieve a consolidation of our society and reach decisions acceptable and effective for all political forces," he said.

Putin also said parties that win regional legislative elections should be allowed to submit gubernatorial candidates.

"This decision will help enhance the authority and the influence of the parties in society, to put human resource questions into the public realm and to guarantee a better agreement in the work of local authorities," Putin said in televised remarks.

He did not say whether he would reserve the right to reject the proposed candidates before passing nominations to regional legislatures for confirmation, as reported this week in national newspapers.

United Russia, which has won many regional elections this year, and the Liberal Democratic Party have welcomed the proposal, saying it will make the selection process more democratic.

Direct gubernatorial elections were replaced with a system under which the president effectively hires and fires governors at the start of this year. Putin said in the wake of the Beslan school attack in September the change was needed to strengthen the state.

Political analysts have said Putin's latest proposal is an attempt to strength the grip of the Kremlin and the loyal United Russia party in the regions.