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The Duma refused to hear the report of the Minister of Sports, but is not ready to demand his resignation
The Duma has changed its mind about hearing a report from the Minister of Sports, Tourism and Youth Policy Vitaly Mutko on the results of the disastrous Winter Olympics for Russia in Vancouver. The head of the Ministry of Sports was invited to speak at the plenary meeting of the chamber during the government hour on April 7. However, yesterday the presidium of the United Russia faction decided to refuse to hear the minister. “This is the position of all parliamentary factions,” Lyubov Sliska, vice-speaker of the State Duma from United Russia, emphasized in a conversation with journalists.The reason for this change in mood was the dissatisfaction of deputies with Mr. Mutko’s speech in the Federation Council on March 31. For example, the head of the Duma Committee on Economic Policy and Entrepreneurship, Evgeny Fedorov, saw in Mutko’s tone “a lack of understanding of responsibility - both his personal and the ministry in the field of sports” for the unsuccessful result of the Russian team at the Olympics. And the chairman of the Duma Committee on Physical Culture and Sports, Anton Sikharulidze, noted that the dialogue with the minister is “uninteresting.”
“The decision is common, although different factions have different motivations to refuse the invitation of Vitaly Mutko. Perhaps “United Russia” is simply afraid to once again admit to the failure of its policy in the field of sports, it wants to gloss over the hot spots, First Deputy Chairman of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation Central Committee, Vice-Speaker of the State Duma Ivan Melnikov told Vremya Novostey. - The motivation of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation is that we respect our ears and prefer a serious conversation on serious topics. Is Mutko ready for such a conversation? His speech in the Federation Council showed that no. A person does not yet understand what political culture is, what government bodies are, why they are needed, what they do. Moreover, he does not understand that he is accountable to them. We don't need foppishness, bravado and antics. When he is ready to have a thoughtful and detailed conversation, we will accept him.”
Some deputies demanded that the issue of Vitaly Mutko’s resignation be raised with the country’s leadership, but at the faction level only the LDPR made such a proposal. Representatives of other parliamentary associations prefer to maintain subordination: this issue should be decided by the executive branch. “The topic of Mutko’s resignation was not discussed at the presidium of the faction,” Valery Ryazansky, first deputy chairman of the United Russia faction and deputy secretary of the party’s general council, told Vremya Novostei. - Personally, I think that the Minister of Sports deserves to resign. He failed to submit a report to the Federation Council. I don’t think it will work in the State Duma either. This was the reason for the reluctance of deputies to hear his speech. This is the position of the deputy corps. As for Mutko’s continued tenure as head of the Ministry of Sports, the decision will be made by the country’s leadership.”
“I think this issue is within the competence of the government. Personally, I do not have enough information to judge who is to blame for the unsuccessful performance of the Russian team at the Olympics in Vancouver,” said Alexander Babakov, vice-speaker of the State Duma from the A Just Russia faction, first secretary of the presidium of the party’s central council.
Ivan Melnikov, in his words, “was not in the mood to demand Mutko’s resignation after the Olympics, realizing that many problems did not arise in the last two years.” But now the sympathy is gone. “After his benefit performance in the Federation Council, he himself forced people to change their opinion about themselves,” said the Communist Party deputy about the Minister of Sports.
The official decision to cancel the government hour with the participation of Vitaly Mutko will be made today at a meeting of the Duma Council.