Penza, 27 April 2012. PenzaNews. Nikolay Makarov, the deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation and member of department of civil defense and emergency situations of the city commented the law on direct elections of governors, passed by parliament in the final reading, in his interview to news agency “PenzaNews.”

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In the final version of the document so-called “municipal filter” appeared in addition to “soft” presidential filter.

“This bill aims to ensure more effective participation of Russian citizens in political life. Now citizens, participating in the direct election of governors, have the right to determine who they trust. Thus, people participate in the political process and have real impact on situation in a particular region,” Nikolay Makarov said.

According to him, the law provides that senior executive official of the subordinate entities of the Federation shall be elected by the citizens on the basis of universal, equal and direct suffrage of secret ballot, and candidates are nominated by political parties.

Law of the subordinate entities of the Federation may provide self-nomination of candidates to the specified positions. In addition, political parties may also nominate their candidates after consultation with the President, the procedure of which is determined by the Head of State,” Nikolay Makarov stated.

He added that there is also another procedure that is defined as “the municipal filter” — the law states that 5 to 10% of municipal deputies must maintain the candidate of the party or self-nominees. Meanwhile, deputies must maintain the candidate in not less than three-quarters of regions and urban districts of the subordinate entities of the Federation. Municipal deputy can vote only for one candidate for the presidency of the region.

To register a self-nominated candidate, it is necessary to collect the number of signatures that can not be less than 0.5% and more than 2% of the number of voters registered in the constituency. The number of people required to support the candidate is established by law of the subordinate entities of the Russian Federation. In addition, deputy of representative body of the municipal formation or elected in municipal elections head of the municipal formation can support only one candidate nominated from any political party or self-nominated candidate. The support implies personal or notarized signature on the sheet of support.

“Lists of deputies and heads of municipal formation that support candidates for the position of senior executive official of the subordinate entity of the Federation, are published in the regional media or posted on the sites of election commissions,” the deputy of the State Duma said.

He reported that a senior executive official of the subordinate entity of the Russian Federation is elected for a term not exceeding five years and can not occupy that post for more than two consecutive terms.

“Provision is made for withdrawing the senior executive official of the subordinate entity of the Russian Federation in case of violation of law or repeated breach of duties for no valid reason. In addition, these facts must be established by the court. Political parties and their regional offices, other public associations, as well as a group of citizens in amount not less than 100 people living within the certain subordinate entity of the Russian Federation can apply to the court to establish these facts,” Nikolay Makarov concluded.