Russian MPs Pass Bill On Governor Polls, Keep Tough Candidate Registration Rules
Interfax - 4.25.12 - JRL 2012-77
Moscow, 25 April: The State Duma on Wednesday (25 April) passed the presidential bill on elections for governors on its third and final reading.
file photoUnder the law, the Russian Federation president himself decides whether or not to hold consultations with parties about their nominees for governor as well as with candidates who have nominated themselves and chooses the format for such consultations.
Furthermore, contenders for the post of governor have to secure the support of between 5 and 10 per cent of deputies in the elected bodies of the municipal entities and/or the directly elected heads of the municipal entities of a constituent part of the Russian Federation representing no fewer than three-quarters of the region's municipal districts and urban areas.
file photoThe law gives discretion to constituent parts of the Russian Federation to decide on the possibility of candidates nominating themselves for election as governor. In order to receive electoral registration, candidates who nominate themselves have to collect the signatures of between 0.5 and 2.0 per cent of voters (with the level set at the region's discretion) in support of their candidacy.
According to the document, there can be two rounds of voting in elections for governors. The candidate who receives more than half the votes cast can be considered to have been elected.
A governor who has been dismissed by a presidential decree may not be nominated in an election for the head of any region for two years after being removed from office. A governor may not serve more than two consecutive terms as head of a constituent part of the Russian Federation.
If persons who became governors under existing legislation (that is those appointed to the post) and who voluntarily resign after at least a year (as received) wish to stand in early elections for heads of regions (held under the new law), they would only be able to do so with the consent of the Russian Federation president.
Furthermore, persons convicted of a serious or especially serious crime may not be gubernatorial candidates, except for cases where their crime is not (is no longer) considered serious or especially serious under a new law.
The signatures of no fewer than 25 per cent of (a region's) voters are needed for a referendum to be held to recall the region's governor. For the governor to be recalled, the votes of more than half of the electorate registered in the region are required.
The law enters into force on 1 June 2012. According to the document, the first elections for heads of regions will be held in October in the regions where the terms of office of their leaders expire between the day on which the law enters into force and 31 December 2012, inclusive.
Keywords: Russia, Government, Politics, Elections - Russian News - Russia
Moscow, 25 April: The State Duma on Wednesday (25 April) passed the presidential bill on elections for governors on its third and final reading.
file photoUnder the law, the Russian Federation president himself decides whether or not to hold consultations with parties about their nominees for governor as well as with candidates who have nominated themselves and chooses the format for such consultations.
Furthermore, contenders for the post of governor have to secure the support of between 5 and 10 per cent of deputies in the elected bodies of the municipal entities and/or the directly elected heads of the municipal entities of a constituent part of the Russian Federation representing no fewer than three-quarters of the region's municipal districts and urban areas.
The law gives discretion to constituent parts of the Russian Federation to decide on the possibility of candidates nominating themselves for election as governor. In order to receive electoral registration, candidates who nominate themselves have to collect the signatures of between 0.5 and 2.0 per cent of voters (with the level set at the region's discretion) in support of their candidacy.
file photoAccording to the document, there can be two rounds of voting in elections for governors. The candidate who receives more than half the votes cast can be considered to have been elected.
A governor who has been dismissed by a presidential decree may not be nominated in an election for the head of any region for two years after being removed from office. A governor may not serve more than two consecutive terms as head of a constituent part of the Russian Federation.
If persons who became governors under existing legislation (that is those appointed to the post) and who voluntarily resign after at least a year (as received) wish to stand in early elections for heads of regions (held under the new law), they would only be able to do so with the consent of the Russian Federation president.
Furthermore, persons convicted of a serious or especially serious crime may not be gubernatorial candidates, except for cases where their crime is not (is no longer) considered serious or especially serious under a new law.
The signatures of no fewer than 25 per cent of (a region's) voters are needed for a referendum to be held to recall the region's governor. For the governor to be recalled, the votes of more than half of the electorate registered in the region are required.
The law enters into force on 1 June 2012. According to the document, the first elections for heads of regions will be held in October in the regions where the terms of office of their leaders expire between the day on which the law enters into force and 31 December 2012, inclusive.