MOSCOW. March 19 (Interfax) - The Russkiye nationalist movement plans to establish a political party with an initial membership of about 20,000, movement leader Dmitry Demushkin told Interfax on Monday. "We have decided to form a party. Members of the Russkiye Supreme Political Council cast their votes; there was only one vote against and all the others were for, so the party will be formed," he said.
If the amendments to the Law on Political Parties are passed, the minimal membership of a party eligible for registration will be cut to 500, Demushkin said. "We do not want a party of 500 members. We want our party to be big and ambitious. We will submit about 20,000 files to show that we are not a dwarf organization," he said.
"There is a contest for the party name and emblem," Demushkin said. "Work in the regions will start when the party name and emblem are approved. We will merge a large number of regional organizations; we have been doing that for three months. After that, the party will hold constituent conferences in regions."
"We need a party not just to be represented in politics. Many regional entities wish to take part in local elections on our behalf, which makes the party vital," he said.
The movement will stop its activity when the party is formed, Demushkin said.
The presidential amendments to the Law on Political Parties, which have been passed in the first reading at the State Duma, cut the minimal party membership to 500 (from the current 40,000).
The State Duma is expected to pass the bill by the end of March, and the Federation Council will put it to vote on March 28.
Keywords: Russia, Politics - Russian News - Russia
MOSCOW. March 19 (Interfax) - The Russkiye nationalist movement plans to establish a political party with an initial membership of about 20,000, movement leader Dmitry Demushkin told Interfax on Monday.
"We have decided to form a party. Members of the Russkiye Supreme Political Council cast their votes; there was only one vote against and all the others were for, so the party will be formed," he said.
If the amendments to the Law on Political Parties are passed, the minimal membership of a party eligible for registration will be cut to 500, Demushkin said. "We do not want a party of 500 members. We want our party to be big and ambitious. We will submit about 20,000 files to show that we are not a dwarf organization," he said.
"There is a contest for the party name and emblem," Demushkin said. "Work in the regions will start when the party name and emblem are approved. We will merge a large number of regional organizations; we have been doing that for three months. After that, the party will hold constituent conferences in regions."
"We need a party not just to be represented in politics. Many regional entities wish to take part in local elections on our behalf, which makes the party vital," he said.
The movement will stop its activity when the party is formed, Demushkin said.
The presidential amendments to the Law on Political Parties, which have been passed in the first reading at the State Duma, cut the minimal party membership to 500 (from the current 40,000).
The State Duma is expected to pass the bill by the end of March, and the Federation Council will put it to vote on March 28.