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Duma Approves Putin's Bill on Reforming Upper House
The Russian State Duma on Wednesday overwhelmingly approved a bill tabled by President Vladimir Putin on reforming the country's upper house, the Federation Council.
The measure cleared the lower house of parliament by a vote of 362-34 with eight abstentions in the first reading, the Interfax news agency reported.
Putin expressed "full satisfaction" with the approval.
The development represents another victory for Putin, who has moved to strengthen his reign over the regions since his inauguration earlier this month.
The State Duma has also passed a separate bill handing the president the power to remove regional governors and disband regional legislatures. It was approved by a vote of 357-28.
In a televised address to the nation on May 17, Putin said the package of bills were intended to "strengthen and cement the Russian statehood."
Under the new measures, the regional leaders would concentrate on their work in the regions, and their representatives, instead of themselves, would start making laws in the Federation Council on Moscow.
Earlier in the month, Putin carved the country into seven districts, each with its own presidential representative.
The new representatives would replace those who work in 80 of the 89 regions in accordance with a 1997 presidential decree signed by Putin's predecessor, Boris Yeltsin.
The new envoys are to report directly to Putin and are charged with"guaranteeing the realization of the constitutional powers of the head of state within the limit of the... federal district."
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