Vertical mayors

The struggle between mayors and governors is finally a thing of the past from next year, the mayors of regional centers and the capitals of the regions, like the governors, will cease to be elected. Corresponding amendments to the Federal Law "On the General Principles of the Organization of Local Self -Government in the Russian Federation" Last Friday was introduced by deputies from United Russia Vladimir Mokry, Alexei Ogrykov and Vladimir Liquids. They argue that this is how it is possible to solve the problem of cities freezing in winter, because for the proceeding pipes will answer the heads of subjects appointed by the president. However, the initiative of the "bears" can be explained not only by concern for the controllability of local authorities, but also by purely party goals. For example, an increase in the role of governors (the vast majority of which are in the "Party of power"), especially within the framework of the experiment conducted now to create "party governments" in the regions. Moreover, this coincides with the Kremlin General Line for the completion of the power vertical, which will finally end in 2009 with the introduction of a new local government system.

Both amendments proposed by the head of the Duma Committee on Local Self -Government, Vladimir Mokhkhim and his colleagues, Vladimir Liquids and Alexei Oglov, make adjustments to the Law on Local Self -Government: one of them concerns cities of federal significance (Moscow, St. Petersburg), the other are the capitals of the subjects of the Federation.

The initiative for three

The essence of the changes is that local self -government may fall from the level of regional centers to the level of intracity territories. To decide whether to lower it or not, according to the authors, the subjects of the Federation themselves must. “In large cities, there are no local self -government for a long time. For example, in Moscow, the administration performs a fictitious function. This is actually the city government, ”says Vladimir Mokry. The deputy refers to foreign experience - for example British: London does not have a mayor, but there are leaders of the territories and regions of the city.

The amendments of the wet make it possible to cancel the elections of mayors of regional centers: if they are no longer local government, then spending money on the elections is irrational.

However, in United Russia it is believed that such an interpretation is "too primitive." According to the party members, the changes are especially rushed in regions where problems with fuel, warmth and transport constantly arise. “If the mayor does not cope, the governor in the event of the next emergency can take part of his duties. We are talking about providing assistance in management, management or financial support. We do not completely deprive the powers of mayors, but temporarily help to solve current problems, ”said Vladimir Liquids.

Correction de jure

The new legislative initiative of the United Russia looks like a reaction to the elections in the Legislative Assembly of nine regions and the subsequent creation of the "regional government" that have passed in early October. Indeed, the current realities, for example, the tax policy of the federal center in relation to subjects are such that the role of elected mayors is small and fits into the formula "No money - no authority." However, the situation de facto requires the adjustment of de jure.

“In the recent elections, the Left Fog showed that it is really capable of competing with United Russia. In those regions where there are contradictions between the governor and mayor, it is very likely that the head of the regional center will become a representative of another party than the head of the region. This means that for United Russia there is a potential danger that another “party in power” will begin to dominate the city and even the region, ”the chairman of the Presidium of the Institute of Globalization of Globalization Mikhail Delyagin explained the situation of Gazeta.

This consideration of Delyagin also explains the extremely negative reaction of the “homeland”, which is included in the created “second leg”. Her leaders do not doubt the political background of the bill. The coordinator of the faction, Ivan Kharchenko, told Gazeta that the document is contrary to the European Charter of Local Self -Government, which Russia signed: “United Russia” lose in large cities, where the population, as a rule, is more educated, vigorous, not thawed, as in rural areas, where the population is actually in a state of survival and is kept due to small budget handouts. Therefore, in Cities "United Russia" flies. The Communists are also against the initiative of the United Russia. The Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Legal Affairs Vadim Solovyov told Gazeta that "the bill clearly violates the rights of voters."

"Party of power" supported only the LDPR. It was her faction a few months ago that came up with the initiative to appoint the mayors to appoint the governor in agreement with the Legislative Assembly. “The owner in the region should be one. We know many situations when the mayors did not count with the governors and literally sent them to three letters. As a result, the residents of the cities themselves suffered. If we are building a vertical of power, we need to build it from beginning to end, ”the position of the faction of the LDPR party Alexei Ostrovsky explained the position of the Gazeta. He is not embarrassed that the Governors, “United Russia”, most likely, will be appointed by the one-party mayors: “Party of power” should be responsible for everything that happens in the state. ”

Future hit

Returning to the economic motives of the bill of United Russia, it is worth noting that no one canceled the struggle for control over the budget, albeit lowered from Old Square. “It is known that three quarters of products are produced in cities, the main share of GDP is also produced here. Naturally, the mayors do not want to share profit, ”Dmitry Oreshkin, head of the Mercator group, told Gazeta.

The bill gives the right to governors, and not to the mayors to determine the sources of local budgets, as well as dispose of land, transport and communal infrastructure.

Thus, the mayor becomes a nominal and virtually extra figure in the nomenclature of subjects.

Given the share of large cities in the creation of GDP, we can almost accurately assume that Vladimir Mokoroy’s bill with his comrades will become one of the hits of the autumn session of the State Duma. And the approaching elections will make an additional party highlight to his discussion. The first reading of the bill is scheduled for November 8. “The initiative is timely, logical,” is convinced by Vladimir Grebenyuk, deputy chairman of the State Duma committee on regulations. “Most deputies must support her.” And the developers add: those mayors that have already been chosen will remain in their places. But, it is quite possible that they will not have to do what they were counting on.

The opponents of the bill remains to appeal to the Constitution, the 12th article of which clearly shares local governments and state power. It is unlikely that this argument will attract the attention of Russian citizens who are used to counting the Duma battles with something far and divorced from everyday life, but the inhabitants of large cities may be interested in them. “In small cities, creating a large amount of power is not very reasonable. And in millionaire cities, where self-government has existed since the 1860s, this will most likely cause discontent, ”a member of the Public Chamber Vyacheslav Glazychev told Gazeta.

Do your city need a mayor?

Gennady Lysenko / Mayor of Dalnegorsk in 2001 - 2006:

“Without a mayor, it’s impossible, and it doesn’t matter if he is good or bad (a“ scum in a gun ”can have leaders in any city, just someone has a smaller fluff, but someone is larger). But the authorities should be present in any area and the city, because even a salary document without a mayor cannot be signed.

I have been the mayor for six years, and still after me they could not choose anyone. When there were elections and I did not participate, people voted against everyone - and I remained the mayor. Then again they could not choose - and again I worked out in the extra two years in this position. And now no one has been chosen. But I myself fired on July 5, because I was tired of all this. I thought like this: "Yes, choose someone you want!"

I lived in Dalnegorsk for more than 30 years, I really love the city and people and sincerely and conscientiously tried to do something there. I never paid anyone, people just came and voted for me. But then lawlessness began, and the first to start it was exactly the Fotyanov, who was shot! He instilled in the inhabitants the idea that everything needs to be bought. Then I said that I would not participate in this.

A hero is made of him now, and he is a real bandit! He himself stated that he did not read a single book and was pulled out in order to solve other issues. In our Dalnegorsk, the United Russia party does not enjoy any authority, it took the last place here, because complete scumbags are climbing there! You can’t do this, and Gryzlov says: “candidate”, “deputy” ... He still worked in the police, had to read papers on Fonyanov. People just laugh! "

Gennady Lazarev / Deputy of the Legislative Assembly of the Primorsky Territory, rector of the Vladivostok State University of Economics and Service:

“In modern conditions, there should be a leader who organizes the life of the population in the city. Naturally, not family life, but everything that is associated with the functioning of the housing and social sphere. And if the head of the city is also talented, today he can also contribute to business development.

Under our mayor in Vladivostok, there are more order, but I would use more civilized methods. Today, checks are being conducted in the city hall, and there are already results. Key officials are removed, and the arguments, as I understand it, are very, very significant. That is, the mayor himself removed the vice-mayor and the guy who was engaged in the housing and communal services, and they, as it were, are no longer members of his team. But we live here and know everything ... "

Valentin Rasputin / Writer:

“When there is a master, it seems that he is needed. And when not, consider that you don't need it! Here we can say in Irkutsk, there is no owner; Our mayor does not bake about the city, but more and more about his affairs. This is expressed in many ways, but for me personally the most unpleasant is that he is trying to build entertainment institutions, which are already full!

Of course, we need the one who controls the city, and it doesn’t matter what to call it - the mayor or chairman of the City Council. And in pre -revolutionary times, the mayor was also. And much depends on the personality. And how to make the mayor be baked about the people, and not build entertainment institutions ... Now they talk about the transparency of the authorities, so what? There was more transparency, but there is little sense! She gives nothing, and they calmly continue to use it. It turns out that decent people in power are a lottery. And the elections mean nothing, because they are too easy to give unworthy people. There must be such a state order that would itself give rise to good hosts of the state level. ”

Yuri Prokofiev / Former First Secretary of the Moscow City Committee of the CPSU:

“In Moscow, of course, you need it. But this law will have nothing to do with Moscow, because it is the subject of the Federation. This will relate to cities such as, say, Samara, because there is the subject of the federation - Samara region, and not Samara itself.

And still it is not great, because even in small cities you need a single management center to protect it (cities) interests. And how to make this single center work for good depends on the general situation in the country. If in the Far East one of the first is the region and approves the bandit, then what can you expect from other regions? Future candidates are killed there, because gangster showdowns are going on. ”

Svetlana Smirnova / People's Artist of Russia:

“But what about without the owner! I am a law-abiding person, but to think about whether we need Valentina Ivanovna or someone else, in my opinion, is pointless and not bad. What will happen, it will be, but still everything will be better! And the owner in Rus' was always needed, and in our St. Petersburg too! At the top they will start who will be them. ”

10/22/2006 / Olga Pavlikova, Alexander Sargin Material published in the newspaper No. 193 dated 10.23.2006.