Izvestia: “Prime minister to answer 12 questions in parliament”
The State Duma Council has decided on the format of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's report on the government's performance in 2010.
Izvestia has learned which questions the lawmakers plan to ask the head of government.
Putin's report on the government's performance is scheduled for April 20. His spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the media that the event will be held in a traditional format and that the prime minister will focus on the country's post-crisis development.
Boris Gryzlov, the lower house speaker, said after the council meeting that each parliamentary group will be entitled to ask three questions, one minute each. The papers they have submitted contain five questions from each group. After Putin answers their questions, a representative of each parliamentary group will be given 10 minutes to speak.
Although this will be the third report Putin has delivered in parliament, the lawmakers are waiting impatiently.
The Communists posted their questions on their website yesterday. They are primarily interested in knowing if the government plans to introduce a progressive income tax, or to tax shareholder dividends, property and luxury. If there are such plans, the party wants to know when they will take effect.
The party is also concerned about the condition of the national defence and aircraft industries, potential government support for agriculture and this year's sowing and planting. The Communists also want to know if the government will heed the lawmakers' criticism and public outrage over the new education bill.
Education also concerns the lawmakers from A Just Russia, especially the new educational standards that have provoked much criticism from experts. They will also bring up scientific research financing problems, the salaries of teachers, doctors and other public sector workers, and the housing and utilities sector.
Oksana Dmitriyeva, a leader of A Just Russia parliamentary group, told Izvestia that they plan to discuss the idea of the government co-financing capital repairs for apartment buildings.
The Liberal-Democratic lawmakers plan to use the opportunity to find out about the progress of their last year's initiative aimed at re-registering Russian companies in Russia that are currently registered in offshore zones.
They are also going to ask Putin how the government plans to fight corruption in state procurement and why no new industrial companies are being set up in Russia.
United Russia is the only party that has not yet published its wish list. According to rumours, its members will mainly ask about social issues, such as public sector salaries and healthcare. A source in the party secretariat told Izvestia that their questions were kept secret to "keep everyone intrigued."
While admitting the significance of the report, analysts believe that the approaching elections are not the only reason for importance.
"The country is clawing its way out of the recession, but as the economy revives, concerns arise over what will happen in the future," said Alexei Makarkin, the deputy head of the Centre for Political Technologies. "It is Vladimir Putin's job to ease at least some of these phobias. Therefore, he is expected to do more than report on his government's performance over the past year, and to make a presentation of their policy for the future."
Yulia Krivoshapko
