The leader of United Russia gave a lecture to party members about rudeness and gubernatorial elections

Yesterday, United Russia launched the Civil University project with a lecture by party chairman Dmitry Medvedev. The Prime Minister said that he remains a supporter of direct gubernatorial elections, and those who want to return to the appointment system will find it very difficult to explain their decision to the people. The party leader called on the United Russia members themselves to use a “civilized method of conducting polemics,” “without rudeness.” The last thesis was voiced against the backdrop of a conflict between the Duma faction of United Russia and the newspaper Moskovsky Komsomolets.

Photo: Kommersant / Alexander Miridonov / buy photo

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Dmitry Medvedev went to his first lecture at the Civil University by helicopter

Photo: Kommersant / Alexander Miridonov / buy photo

Dmitry Medvedev instructed the party to develop a project for a party university almost a year ago at the congress, where he was elected chairman of United Russia. Yesterday, the “Civil University” was finally launched, and the first lecture was given by Mr. Medvedev himself. The prime minister went over all the pressing topics for the party and even intercepted the agenda of the All-Russian Popular Front (ONF), which, with the participation of Vladimir Putin, on Friday will discuss, among other things, the closure of rural maternity hospitals and the tax burden on individual entrepreneurs. But the main topics of the lecture were the rejection of direct elections and the conflict between the United Russia faction in the State Duma and the Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper.

The head of the North Caucasus Inter-Coordination Council of the party, Adalbi Shkhagoshev, brought up the topic of elections for the chairman, who inquired about Dmitry Medvedev’s opinion on the adoption of a law introducing an alternative model of empowering heads of subjects through approval by the regional parliament (yesterday it was approved by the Federation Council). Previously, unofficial information had already appeared that the Kremlin recommended applying this model exclusively to six regions of the North Caucasus.

Dmitry Medvedev, in the last year of whose presidency a law was passed to return to direct elections of governors, told his associates “that he is still a supporter of the fact that the highest officials of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation should be elected.” The Prime Minister believes that different models are possible in a federal state, and if the model adopted yesterday should be applied somewhere, then “first of all, in the North Caucasus, where in some regions the election procedure has never been used (in Dagestan - Kommersant ) ".

However, Dmitry Medvedev did not show enthusiasm for the abolition of direct elections even in the North Caucasus. “Let them decide for themselves, but if someone decides to cancel direct elections, we need to prepare and explain to people why there will be a different procedure. It will not be easy,” he said, expressing hope that most of the subjects will not refuse the elections, because “it would be a step in the opposite direction.” “We’ve already been through this,” said the party chairman. Let us recall that it was under Dmitry Medvedev that, as a result of appointments, the gubernatorial corps was half renewed, while Yuri Luzhkov, Mintimer Shaimiev, Murtaza Rakhimov and other old-time governors, who had been previously elected many times, left. It should be noted that at a December press conference, Vladimir Putin spoke about the possibility of canceling elections in the republics due to the danger of conflicts on ethnic grounds, citing Dagestan and Karachay-Cherkessia as an example.

The party chairman also spoke about the scandal between the Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper and the United Russia Duma members. We would like to remind you that because of the critical article in “MK” “Political prostitution has changed gender”, which assessed the legislative activities of United Russia deputies Irina Yarovaya, Olga Batalina and Ekaterina Lakhova, deputy Andrei Isaev spoke rudely to the editor-in-chief of “MK”, a member of the Public Pavel Gusev's chambers. “The particular editor and author will respond harshly,” he said. Mr. Gusev complained about the deputy to the Prosecutor General's Office, and the United Russia faction, in turn, decided to check the legality of the use of MK premises and introduce income declarations for members of the OP (however, this idea was not supported in the Kremlin). Yesterday, the Moscow Union of Journalists, contrary to the demands of United Russia, re-elected Pavel Gusev as its chairman.

“The whole cross-section of opinions is represented in the media. Differently, but presented. The party must become more efficient and open, conduct dialogue intelligently,” Dmitry Medvedev called on his comrades-in-arms to “a civilized method of conducting polemics,” “without rudeness.” “Even when impartial people speak things, people should at least be listened to - we should not cede this platform to anyone." In the same spirit, he answered the question of “Young Guard” member Ekaterina Stenyakina about whether there is a custom campaign against United Russia, including in the media. This opinion appeared among United Russia members after a series of revelations about deputies and senators owning expensive real estate. Dmitry Medvedev half-jokingly admitted that he “made several calls” to find out “if there are specific customers.” “In life, everything is simpler and more complicated. There are forces that will provoke us, insult the party and leaders. If we succumb to provocations, this will not help us,” he said, noting that if any words are spoken about State Duma deputies or senators, then questions need to be answered, not closed, and in relation to rudeness, “answered harshly, but in a civilized manner: through the courts and law enforcement agencies.”

However, United Russia does not intend to go to court. State Duma deputy Olga Batalina, who appeared in the MK publication, agrees with the party chairman that legal resolution of issues is the best way out of a conflict situation. However, in her opinion, this case is special and lies in the “moral and ethical sphere.” That is why she and her colleagues are not going to go to court. “I believe that this note is an order. Therefore, I do not want to sue its author. I have questions for the owner and editor-in-chief of the publication, but formal grounds for legal proceedings against him, unfortunately, are not enough in this case,” she explained she is "b".

A new turn in party life was the Prime Minister’s proposal to strengthen interaction between the party and the government. Party members will meet with ministers, prepare their proposals for them, and participate in “zero” readings of bills and regulations, in particular on housing and communal services. Let us note that housing and communal services tariffs are expected to increase in June, and the government will be able to share responsibility for this with the party. The leader of the United Russia Duma faction, Vladimir Vasiliev, said yesterday that the first such meeting will take place next week.

Irina Nagornykh

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