Yedinaya Rossiya (United Russia) party has finally set the script of its Ninth General Assembly. Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev are planning to pay a visit, and party leaders want to offer the outgoing President to become their leader
One week before the April 14-15 Assembly, UR leader and Duma Speaker told the media about the plans for the event. The first day will be fully dedicated to discussion of Russia's future development strategy until 2020. The delegates and guests of the conference will split into groups to come up with clear suggestions on solving various problems of the country. By the end of the forum, there will be a document published under the name "Party Role in Strategy 2020 Implementation".
A total of eight groups are planned, such as "Our Democracy" group on political system, chaired by Expert's editor-in-chief Valery Fadeev, "What is innovation", "In search of the middle-class", "Law vs. Corruption", "Globalized world - modern Russia's ambitions", etc. The list of groups participants includes experts and officials who a not UR members. Gryzlov said his party wanted to invite "broader society" to discussion. Gryzlov himself will visit each of the workshops to share his vision of the issue discussed.
In his interview to Expert Online, Gryzlov said there were no plans to form fractions or sub-divisions within Yedinaya Rossiya, a party encompassing three "clubs" - Socialist, Liberal and Conservative Nationalist. "There will be no wings, as bears don't fly", Gryzlov stressed referring to the animal UR's logo.
In what is supposed to be the event's turning point, Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev will be present at the Assembly on April 15, to hear Gryzlov's evaluation report. There, Putin will once again receive an offer to become the leader of United Russia. He has so far rejected the idea of even becoming party member, saying an acting leader of the country should remain nonpartisan. Anyway, Gryzlov and his comrades are hopeful the outgoing President, who initiated UR's creation, will accept their offer this time.
Vera Kholmogorova
Photo: ITAR-TASS
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