Stepanov Alexander, deputy chairman of Legislative Assembly of Karelia
Source: stepanov-karel
Only the day before yesterday the sun was shining in Petrozavodsk. Snow was melting, asphalt was seen here and there. It’s cold, cloudy today, sometimes it’s snowing. Here you are - Karelian spring.
The same things occur in the political life. Only yesterday there were calls from journalists of federal mass media. Say, you, the Karelians, are very courageous – encroached upon Putin's third term. Give us your comments. What democracy you have there – in Karelia! It seems we even got to a top of federal news (details here - http://stepanov-karel.livejournal.com/381940.html and here - http://www.gazeta.ru/politics/2012/03/26_a_4105545.shtml)
While today - "thaw period” ended. It was declared at a morning briefing in Legislative Assembly of Karelia that already 9 deputies of Legislative Assembly if the Republic of Karelia, generally members of United Russia, wrote applications that they either didn't vote, or voted incorrectly (they pressed wrong button by mistake) at consideration of a question of restriction of presidential term to 2 terms. Probably, there will be more such deputies. Among the deputies who “made a mistake” are Alikhanov, Makarov, Krasulin, Zubarev, Bibilov (the last two were not present in a hall, therefore there is reasonable question - who from members of the same party voted instead???), also independent and A.Pozdnyakova ("Yabloko").
Now it is necessary to organize the second voting. It will be interesting.
The most ridiculous in all this story is that initiative of LDPR fraction was actually pre-election. That is before presidential election all their regional fractions received from Vladimir Volfovich "instruction" to put forward legislative initiative about restriction of presidential terms. It’s normal, one more chance to come in view. As I understand, the vast majority of regions threw that initiative to the bin. Nobody in general bothered about it. But we, the Karelians, may be because of being “frostbound” didn't understand it. At first it was postponed for post-elective period, then we decided to vote. Well it happened accidentally.
Here you are the birth of the political sensation! And what do you think?
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From editorial board: It’s absolutely not clear what are the reasons for making step back for the deputies from "United Russia" laudable legislative initiative? Initiative – is not the law, actually it is possible simply to stop it in the State Duma. Or "that no one ever dared”?
That is the party in power intends not to allow even a hint on illegality of Putin’s stay in the presidential chair for the third term - and on possibility of restriction of his remaining there for the fourth term?
It is curious in this connection to look at the results of a poll on Forum.msk:
What do you think when Putin will leave?:
In 12 years (108)
In 6 years (75)
In 3 years (88)
In 1 year (77)
He won’t leave of own free will – he will be taken away (1285)
