Fuente: © Council of Europe
http://www.coe.int/

Congress : Russian local democracy in danger ?

/noticias.info/ Moscow, 14.11.2006 - During the Autumn session of the Congress, new developments with regard to local self-government in Russia were discussed with different interlocutors. The Congress continues to be preoccupied by a draft law on examination in the Russian Duma. In the eyes of the Congress, and indeed of many Russians, this draft legislation, should it be adopted by the Duma, could be in contradiction with the European Charter of Local Self-government, in two respects:

- If mayors in regional capitals or other big cities were not elected but appointed by governors, this would endanger one of the basic democratic principles, the right to elect local councils enshrined in Article 3.2. of the Charter.

- If the governors had the possibility to take over competences from the regional capitals or other municipalities, this mightdying drive undermine the principle enshrined in the Charter that local authorities should be able to “regulate and manage a substantial share of public affairs under their own responsibility and in the interests of the local population”.

Furthermore it is clear that municipalities in Russia will need federal guarantees to be able to have at their disposal adequate financial resources corresponding to their competencies.

However, means to achieve greater citizen involvement in local government should of course be discussed. State authorities do also have the possibility to monitor compliance of local government acts with legislation in force.

The Congress stands ready for an ongoing dialogue with all Russian authorities involved in this debate. The Council of Europe and its centre of expertise could be consulted on the conformity of any draft legislation with the European Charter of Local Self-government. The Congress Institutional Committee will be asked to start fresh work on monitoring the situation of local and regional democracy in the Russian Federation.


Communication Unit of the Congress
of Local and Regional Authorities
Tel: +33 (0)3 90 21 49 36
Fax:+33 (0)3 88 41 27 51
congress.com@coe.int
www.coe.int/congress

Press contacts on the spot:
Dmitri Marchenkov, Head of the Congress Communication Unit
Mobile:+33 (0)6 75 65 03 49 ; dmitri.marchenkov@coe.int
Estelle Steiner, Press officer,
Mobile:+33 (0)6 08 46 01 ; estelle.steiner@coe.int notas_de_prensa_archivo