Putin's plans are the party's plans

United Russia promises to ensure continuity of the presidential course after 2008

Yesterday a joint meeting of the Supreme Council and the General Council of the United Russia party took place. There were three issues on the agenda: the implementation of the so-called “Putin plan”, the draft federal budget for three years and the procedure for nominating non-party candidates on the United Russia lists in the upcoming parliamentary elections.

Party leader and State Duma Speaker Boris Gryzlov told United Russia members about the implementation of the presidential initiatives contained in the messages to the Federal Assembly. He said that United Russia considers these initiatives “as a single and comprehensive program.” “This is a long-term strategy for the country’s development, set by our national leader. For United Russia, this is “Putin’s plan,” and we, as the leading political party, as the party of the president, are obliged to implement this plan in full,” Gryzlov said. He also noted that throughout all these years, United Russia not only supported the president’s initiatives, but also enriched his political course with its ideas, many of which were reflected in the messages.

Then Boris Gryzlov explained what exactly United Russia means by “Putin’s plan.” This plan, he said, has five key paragraphs. The first is to understand that “Russia is a unique and great civilization, and the attitude towards the development tasks of our country, the understanding of all responsibility for its future must be appropriate. We are talking here about the need to protect and preserve for future generations the common cultural space, the riches of the Russian language bequeathed to us, the traditions of tolerance and spirituality.” The second key task of “Putin’s plan” is building a competitive economy. “To do this, it is necessary to support science, increase investment primarily in the high-tech industry, in the locomotive industry, develop infrastructure, and stimulate small business,” Gryzlov noted. The third paragraph provides for a qualitatively new standard of living for the country's citizens. “This requires the continuation of priority national projects, a further and significant increase in wages, bringing to fruition the pension reform, and helping citizens solve the housing problem,” Gryzlov explained. The fourth point of the plan is the establishment of civil society institutions. The fifth involves the further development of Russia as a sovereign state. “For us, the need to further increase the country’s defense capability, modernize the army, and equip it with the most modern types of weapons and equipment is obvious,” Gryzlov said.

According to the speaker, in 2007 the chamber intends to adopt a number of bills aimed at achieving the goals and objectives set by the president. In particular, the Duma will consider bills on the creation of a national welfare fund, a fund for the elimination of dilapidated and dilapidated housing, as well as initiatives aimed at increasing funding for the road industry and creating a nanotechnology corporation.

Then, during a break in the meeting, the speaker shared with reporters: “United Russia” will not only implement “Putin’s plan,” but will also ensure the continuity of the president’s course after 2008. This same plan, in fact, will become the election program of United Russia.

The provisions voiced by Gryzlov should be reflected in the draft federal budget for 2008, 2009 and 2010, which the Duma will consider in the first reading on May 25. Yesterday, Russian Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin also attended a meeting of the Supreme Council and General Council of the party in power. Meanwhile, in the State Duma, deputies from the A Just Russia faction announced that they would abstain from voting on the budget on Friday. By the second reading, deputies of the faction intend to introduce serious amendments to the main financial document of the country. “Our position will be adjusted depending on whether our amendments are accepted,” faction leader Alexander Babakov said yesterday. He shared his distrust of the work of the Ministry of Finance. According to Mr. Babakov, the draft budget now proposes significant investments in the economy, industry and the social sphere, while six months ago, Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin, in response to similar proposals from Socialist Revolutionary deputies, replied that significant investments in the economy would cause significant rising inflation.

Yesterday, United Russia also determined the procedure for nominating non-party candidates from the party in the parliamentary elections. As Valery Ryazansky, Deputy Secretary of the Presidium of the General Council of United Russia, said, according to the law, the participation of non-party candidates in elections is possible either by their personal application to the party, or the party itself can nominate a citizen.

Ksenia VERETENNIKOVA