The State Duma has made public the amended version of Putin's constitutional reform bill. This is my very rough summary of some of the key points following a quick read through the text. THREAD 👇 1/? @UCLSSEES #Russia sozd.duma.gov.ru/bill/885214-7
The 68-page text prepared for 2nd reading (scheduled for 10 March) incorporates changes (approved by the lead committee) proposed to the 18-page bill originally submitted by Putin to the legislature on 20 January and adopted in 1st reading on 23 January. 2/?
The most important thing to stress is what *isn't* included in the amended bill, namely further details on the rebooted State Council. This fits with the Kremlin's interest in maintaining strategic ambiguity re: what Putin will do in 2024. Now onto what is mentioned. 3/?
For various high-level offices – e.g., heads of federal subjects and the presidency – a common set of restrictions apply regarding citizenship, foreign residency permits, as well as assets and accounts abroad. This is part of the "nationalisation of the elite" plan. 4/?
The Kremlin hopes this "nationalisation" plan will play well with citizens. This is also the reason why article 67.1 has been inserted. This is an odd jumble of ideas, including those originally discussed as amendments to the Preamble (which has been left unamended). 5/?
Points include: Russia as the USSR successor state; inheriting ideals and belief in God from ancestors; protecting historical truth and honouring the memory of defenders of the Fatherland; and supporting children as the country's "most important asset". 6/?
Even if an odd jumble of ideas, this is the material that the Kremlin hopes will play well with Russian citizens – and the material that'll be stressed in the run-up to the 22 April nationwide vote with a view to maximising turnout. 7/?
Language has been added to article 69, saying that the Russian state will provide support to compatriots living abroad. Again, read this as a way to appeal to nationalist sentiment. 8/?
A point has been added to article 72, stating that marriage is a union between a man and a woman – a "traditional values" nod. This is also picked up in article 114, with the Government responsible for protecting "traditional family values". 9/?
An added article 75.1 refers to creating the conditions for economic growth with a view to "mutual trust between the state and society". This fits with Putin's recent rhetorical focus on improving Russians' incomes. 10/?
Article 79.1 has been added, referring to steps Russia will take to supporting the strengthening of international peace and security, the peaceful coexistence of states and peoples – and the "prevention of interference in the internal affairs of the state". 11/?
The general description of the presidency has been tweaked, adding that the officeholder will support "civil peace and understanding in the country". 12/?
The general description also refers to the "unified system of public power" (единая система публичной власти), whereas the existing text refers to "state power" (государственная власть). 13/?
The president has to have been a permanent resident in Russia for no less than 25 of the preceding years (before election), and individuals are limited to two presidential terms (the word "consecutive" is removed). 14/?
The president "performs general leadership of the Government" (although the prime minister formally remains the head of government). 15/?
The bill follows changed language to section e.1) of article 83 with an added section e.3). But, then, where is section e.2)? This looks like a glaring omission (or I'm missing something)... 16/?
The possibility noted by people like Nikolai Petrov that language giving the president the authority to remove top-level judges would not be included in the final version of the bill has not been realised. (Petrov suggested this might be temporary; used to pressure judges.) 17/?
Article 83, section e.5) says that the president forms the State Council, but this amendment gives little extra insight into what shape this body will take. It will be formed by a federal law. 18/?
Article 83, section zh) relates to the Security Council, which will (like with the current wording) be formed and headed by the president. Brief language on the Council's goals include "assisting the head of state in realising their responsibilities". 19/?
An added article 92.1 relates to immunity for former presidents. The language of article 93 has been modified re: how this immunity can be lifted. 20/?
Article 95 now refers to "senators", not "members of the Federation Council". This formalises a name that lots of people use for members of the upper chamber. 21/?
Former presidents become lifetime senators automatically – but they can decline to take up this office. 22/?
Presidents can appoint up to 30 senators, known as "representatives of the Russian Federation". Up to 7 of these presidential appointees can be lifetime senators, with the others holding their posts for 6 years. 23/?
The two chambers of the Federal Assembly will no longer meet together for addresses from the Constitutional Court or speeches by leaders of foreign states. (Quite why is not clear.) 24/?
And added article 103.1 relates to "parliamentary control (oversight)". There's nothing really juicy here. 25/?
Section 3 of article 107 has been amended to give the president a "super-veto". In short, the president can send legislative initiatives (on which the Federal Assembly has overridden an initial presidential veto) to the Constitutional Court. 26/?
If the Court rules that such initiatives are unconstitutional, then the president can return these initiatives unsigned to the State Duma. 27/?
Similarly, the president can send a federal constitutional law that has been adopted by the State Duma and the Federation Council to the Constitutional Court to assess its constitutionality. 28/?
If the Court rules that such initiatives are unconstitutional, then the president can return these initiatives unsigned to the State Duma. 29/?
In Chapter 6 on the Government, the president gains more flexibility in whether to dissolve the State Duma – e.g., following the third-time rejection of a prime ministerial candidate by the lower chamber. Current wording requires president to dissolve in this situation. 30/?
According to the new section 3 of article 112, the president is required to appoint the deputy PMs and non-siloviki ministers proposed by the PM and approved by the State Duma. 31/?
If the State Duma does not approve candidates after three attempts, leading to the situation where more than 1/3 of non-siloviki Government posts remain vacant, then the president can dissolve the Duma. 32/?
Language has been added to article 113, to the effect that the PM is personally responsible to the president for carrying out the Government's functions. 33/?
A long list of Government duties has been added to article 114, including: ensuring support for the scientific-technical development of the country; social protection for disabled people; and supporting civil society institutions. 34/?
There's also language relating to "ecological education of citizens" and support for volunteering activities, among other things. 35/?
The big question, though, is the extent to which these are simply empty words. Will the Government have the resources to turn these statements into meaningful changes for Russian citizens? 36/?
The language of article 117 has been tweaked, relating to motions of (no) confidence in the Government and implications for the removal of governments, the dissolution of the State Duma, and new elections. 37/?
Section 4.1 of article 117 has been added, stating that the PM, deputy PMs, and federal ministers have the right to resign – and the president has the authority to accept or reject. 38/?
In section 2 of article 118, "arbitration" courts have been added to the list of types of court proceedings through which judicial power is exercised. 39/?
In section 1 of article 125, the number of Constitutional Court justices is reduced from 19 to 11. 40/?
Part a) of a new section 5.1 has been added to article 125, giving the Constitutional Court – on the request of the president – the authority to assess the constitutionality of initiatives amending the Constitution, federal constitutional law bills, and federal law bills. 41/?
Part b) relates to the Constitutional Court assessing decisions of foreign and international courts. This will play well with the "increased sovereignty" framing of the constitutional changes, that polling suggests is going down well with a substantial portion of citizens. 42/?
Part c) of section 5.1 give the president the authority to ask the Constitutional Court to assess the constitutionality of regional laws before their promulgation by the head of the respective region. 43/?
Article 129 now includes general language about the nature of the Procuracy, including its role in "monitoring compliance with the rights and freedoms of people and citizens". 44/?
Changes to articles in Chapter 8 – on local self-government – are a bit odd. My reading is that this oddness stems from the attempt to, at the same time, maintain that local self-government is really self-government whilst trying to centralise power. 45/?
Remember that organs of local self-government are not technically part of the state in Russia. 46/?
The amendments move around some of the existing language regarding "historical and local traditions", as well as the fact that organs of local self-government are to be defined by local residents "independently" (see section 1 of article 131). 47/?
And yet, a new article 131.1 states that organs of state power can take part in forming organs of local self-government, including hiring and firing officials. 48/?
A new section 3 of article 131 introduces language about the specificities of exercising "public power" in territories of federal significance (Moscow, St Petersburg, Sebastopol), capitals of federal subjects, and "other territories" – places the Kremlin wants to control. 49/?
These "other territories" probably relate to the new "federal territories" category, introduced in section 1 of article 67 of the Constitution. 50/?
The language of local self-government being exercised through procedures like referenda and elections is now removed (existing section 2 of article 130). 51/?
Language has been added to section 1 of article 132, saying that organs of local self-government should ensure (within their competence) the availability of medical care. But, again, the question is whether the resources/funding will be available to back this up. 52/?
A new section 3 has been added to article 132, stating that organs of local self-government and organs of state power together form a "unified system of public power". It looks like the Kremlin wants control without responsibility... 53/?
There is no language giving the State Duma the power to dissolve itself – something I've discussed previously. 54/? themoscowtimes.com/2020/02/12/ear…
Section 1 of article 68 adds something that has already caused a stir re: the Russian language being the language of the "state-forming people". I've already tweeted (outside of the thread) on how the Mufti of Tatarstan has voiced concerns about this. 55/?
A reminder that the text on which I'm commenting contains those changes recommended by the lead committee to be approved by the State Duma in 2nd reading. That doesn't guarantee that all the changes will be adopted. 56/?
@threadreaderapp rollout
Quick update that section e.2) of article 83 isn't, in fact, missing – it's included in the latest version of the Constitution, incorporating changes made in 2014. The section relates to the president's authority to appoint and remove members of the Federation Council. 57/?
Lots of people use constitution.ru, but this doesn't include the change, whereas kremlin.ru/acts/constitut… does. 58/?
