The fifth convocation of the State Duma completed its first spring session on Saturday. The people's representatives now have to work for a further week in the regions, and can then head off for a well-deserved two month break.
And the rest is indeed well-deserved. In half a year of work, the lower house of parliament, according to its speaker Boris Gryzlov, managed "to ratify 164 federal laws and approve three federal constitutional laws". For the deputies this is a record. Gryzlov boasted a week ago to Prime Minister Vladimir Putin that in the recent history of Russian parliamentarism there has not yet been such "a fast rate of consideration of legislative initiatives".
However, all the major bills aimed at reforming the social and financial spheres came quickly for spring. It is also worth noting that this session passed laws on limiting foreign investment in strategic industries and establishing new state corporations, as well as a final version of the law on preferential rights to purchase premises for small businesses.
There were virtually no political laws in the State Duma during these six months. Among the most notable initiatives was that of the young deputy Robert Shlegel about tightening penalties for slander in the media.
Boris Gryzlov noted that "in this convocation United Russia members decided to share leadership positions with the opposition". The party gave the chairmanships of six committees to the Duma minority. "But the party affiliation of the chairmen will not determine the assessment of the activities of the committees," the State Duma speaker said.
The first session of the fifth convocation was remarkable for the number of ceremonies. The very next day after the inauguration of Dmitry Medvedev ex-President Putin was approved as chairman of the government. Another event was the celebration of the thousandth meeting of the lower chamber.
True, it should be noted that, despite the remarkable results in terms of the number of passed bills, the deputies themselves were not the authors of many initiatives. Two-thirds of the current members of the House did not author a single bill. The most notable proposals came from either the government or were developed with its cooperation.
Vera Kholmogorova
Photo: RIA Novosti
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