Alexander Veshnyakov, chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC), presented a certificate on the election of Vladimir Putin as President of the Russian Federation and an album on the history of the election, comprising photographs, charts and other related documents of the latest election campaign.
At a meeting with the heads of regional election commissions Mr Putin said that the presidential election had been held in strict compliance with the law, largely due to the election commissions’ efforts.
He said the moral and ethical climate in the country depended, to a large extent, on the efforts of election commissions, whose skilled work contributed to setting highly professional political and administrative standards during the 2000 presidential election campaign.
Mr Putin said that as president of Russia he would concentrate efforts on strengthening institutions of state power, including the creation of a firm vertical structure of power, addressing the problems of law enforcement, and improving the work of the Kremlin executive office.
He said he would put forth his action programme in his State of the Nation Address. The programme’s priorities will include the development of democratic institutions and a substantial improvement in the people’s living standards.
Speaking about the majority election system (as opposed to proportional representation), the Acting President said the issue should be thoroughly discussed in society and parliament.
Various proposals were being debated for improving the structure and operation of the Federation Council, Mr Putin said, adding that the vertical power structure should be strengthened and possibly slightly changed. He said it would not be right to deprive the people of the right to elect their leaders. Elected governors feel more responsible to the people who voted for them.
The Acting President also spoke about the possibility of forming a Union Parliament of Russia and Belarus. He said the election to the parliament would not disrupt political life in the two countries. The CEC has drafted a bill on the election procedure to the Union Parliament, which should be passed by the end of the year. Mr Putin said that the first election to the Union Parliament would be held after that.