Vyacheslav Volodin does not let the senators in the summer holidays
On Tuesday the state Duma Council discussed the situation around the variance of the end dates of the spring session of the lower house and the Federation Council (SF). The last meeting at the Duma on 21 July, while the SF — 19 July. This means that the adopted by the Duma on 21 July, the laws can be signed by the President without the approval of the upper house. The state Duma believes that the Federation Council would extend the work. According to “Kommersant”, against this stands the speaker of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko, which the Chairman of the state Duma Vyacheslav Volodin has not agreed changes to the schedule of the Duma. Interlocutors “” in the state Duma noted that the bypass SF in the adoption of the law is not contrary to the Constitution, but “the situation is bad.”
Question about the different timing of the end of the spring session of the state Duma and the Federation Council was raised at a meeting of the Council of the Duma in connection with the discussion of the governmental amendments to the law on far hectare, told “Kommersant” a source in the state Duma. The government was requested to take them in the spring session. According to the interlocutor of “Kommersant”, the speaker of the state Duma Vyacheslav Volodin has offered to review the draft in the third reading on 21 July, at the last meeting of the spring session of the state Duma. After that, the speaker of the Council recalled that the last meeting of the Council held on 19 July. The head of the Duma Committee on rules Olga Savastianova confirmed “Kommersant” that the question of the timing of the completion of work of both houses was discussed at the Council.
When resolution of the state Duma in the end of 2016 approved schedule of work of deputies, Olga Savastianova said that it corresponds to the “rhythm of life of citizens of the Russian Federation” and “is consistent with the schedule of work of the Council of the Federation.” However, interlocutors “” in the state Duma say that the changes in the parliamentary schedule, with the speaker of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko agreed. Because of this, in late December, the upper chamber adopted its work schedule in which the last meeting is July 19. According to “Kommersant”, Mrs. Matvienko is not going to renew the work of the Council, to demonstrate that the opinion of SF must be considered.
Senator Vyacheslav Timchenko told Kommersant that “the last meeting of the Council will be held on July 19, the decision on the extension of work is not discussed”. According to him, the state Duma can leave at the last plenary meeting, on 21 July, only the bills of the first reading. One of those present at the Council of the Duma reminded of such arrangements, Mr Volodin, says the source “b”, but the speaker responded by saying that he doesn’t remember it. According to Olga Savastianova, the problem could be either the extension of the session of the Federation Council, or the revision of the state Duma of the plan for the adoption of the draft in the third reading. “But to speed this Duma,” she said.
Differences in schedules can lead to that taken at the last session of the state Duma of the laws would remain without the approval of SF. According to paragraph 3 of article 105 of the Constitution, the laws of the lower house for five days referred to the SF.
But in the same article stipulates that the law shall be approved by the upper house, if within 14 days it has not been considered by the Council, reminds the head of the Duma Committee on legislation Pavel Krasheninnikov.
According to him, “this practice was used when the Council consisted of the governors and legislative Assembly speakers”. In such a situation, the law is sent for signature to the President after adoption by the state Duma without consideration of SF. Now on July 21, delivered the ratification of the Convention between the Russian Federation and the Kingdom of Morocco on extradition (of criminals.— “Kommersant”). The ratification and denunciation of international treaties of the Russian Federation, according to article 106 of the Constitution, refers to obligatory consideration by the Council. Although the bypass SF and is not a violation of the Constitution, “the situation turns bad,” says the source “b” in the state Duma.
Sophia Samokhina