Head of the Supreme Council of the United Russia Party and Chairman of the State Duma Boris Gryzlov submitted the Party's proposals for the posts of Governors of the Kurgan and Astrakhan Regions to President Medvedev.
Under a law that entered into force on July 1, 2009, such a right is accorded to the party that wins the elections for the Legislative Assembly in a respective region of the Russian Federation. In accordance with the law, the winning party proposes three candidates for the position of regional governor. The final decision is made by the President, who then submits his choice to the region's Legislative Assembly for approval.
President Medvedev stressed that this way of choosing gubernatorial candidates strengthens the political system and the parties. At the same time, the President noted that the procedure can be improved. Dmitry Medvedev announced that he will be submitting a bill to the State Duma that significantly shortens procedures for the selection and presentation of parties' candidates for consideration by the President.