MOSCOW. Jan 28 (Interfax) - The implementation of Mikhail Gorbachev's idea of a constitutional referendum would pose a serious threat to the Russian political system, especially in the run-up to the second wave of a global economic crisis, says Alexei Makarkin, the first deputy president of the Center of Political Technologies.
"Although Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev is a lawyer by education and was graduated from the law department of Moscow Lomonosov State University, he is acting as a politician in this article, not as a lawyer. The very notion of 'autocracy' cannot be considered in a legal context, because Russia has not had this form of government since 1917. In fact, Mr. Gorbachev's idea reflects the determination to convene a Constituent Assembly supported by some of our liberals, which would restrict the president's powers and would expand the parliament's authority," Makarkin told Interfax on Saturday.
Gorbachev's proposal of a referendum has its logic, Makarkin said. "The convention of a Constituent Assembly is not envisioned by the constitution. However, the constitution stipulates that power in Russia belongs to the people, whose will expressed through a referendum shall have the decisive role," he said.
The idea of a referendum itself, not to mention an attempt to put it into practice, would pose a serious threat to stability in Russia, Makarkin said. "Radical political transformation and actually an attempt to shake up the entire Russian political system is too dangerous. It is especially dangerous in the run-up to the second wave of the global economic crisis, which Russia is unlikely to avoid," he said.
Gorbachev called for conducting a referendum in Russia to introduce a constitutional reform in an article published in Novaya Gazeta on Saturday.
"I expect the appearance of a new and strong democratic party capable of initiating the constitution's renewal in Russia, which the course of events is dictating," Gorbachev said in the article.
"A real way towards this is a referendum. Here is what the law on referendum says: 'Along with free elections, referendum is the highest and direct way of expressing the people's power," he says.
"The people could be asked just one question in such a referendum: Do you support a political and constitutional reform that would liquidate autocracy and would guarantee democracy?'" Gorbachev says.
The Russian Central Elections Commission (CEC) refrained from commenting on Gorbachev's idea. "An answer to this question requires a political commentary, and it makes sense to approach politicians for this. I am not a politician," CEC Secretary Nikolai Konkin told Interfax.
Keywords: Russia, Government, Politics - Russia News - Russia
MOSCOW. Jan 28 (Interfax) - The implementation of Mikhail Gorbachev's idea of a constitutional referendum would pose a serious threat to the Russian political system, especially in the run-up to the second wave of a global economic crisis, says Alexei Makarkin, the first deputy president of the Center of Political Technologies.
"Although Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev is a lawyer by education and was graduated from the law department of Moscow Lomonosov State University, he is acting as a politician in this article, not as a lawyer. The very notion of 'autocracy' cannot be considered in a legal context, because Russia has not had this form of government since 1917. In fact, Mr. Gorbachev's idea reflects the determination to convene a Constituent Assembly supported by some of our liberals, which would restrict the president's powers and would expand the parliament's authority," Makarkin told Interfax on Saturday.
Gorbachev's proposal of a referendum has its logic, Makarkin said. "The convention of a Constituent Assembly is not envisioned by the constitution. However, the constitution stipulates that power in Russia belongs to the people, whose will expressed through a referendum shall have the decisive role," he said.
The idea of a referendum itself, not to mention an attempt to put it into practice, would pose a serious threat to stability in Russia, Makarkin said. "Radical political transformation and actually an attempt to shake up the entire Russian political system is too dangerous. It is especially dangerous in the run-up to the second wave of the global economic crisis, which Russia is unlikely to avoid," he said.
Gorbachev called for conducting a referendum in Russia to introduce a constitutional reform in an article published in Novaya Gazeta on Saturday.
"I expect the appearance of a new and strong democratic party capable of initiating the constitution's renewal in Russia, which the course of events is dictating," Gorbachev said in the article.
"A real way towards this is a referendum. Here is what the law on referendum says: 'Along with free elections, referendum is the highest and direct way of expressing the people's power," he says.
"The people could be asked just one question in such a referendum: Do you support a political and constitutional reform that would liquidate autocracy and would guarantee democracy?'" Gorbachev says.
The Russian Central Elections Commission (CEC) refrained from commenting on Gorbachev's idea. "An answer to this question requires a political commentary, and it makes sense to approach politicians for this. I am not a politician," CEC Secretary Nikolai Konkin told Interfax.