On March 4 twenty-two out of the 38 members of the Motherland faction spoke up for dismissing Glazyev as the leader and putting Rogozin instead, his place as the vice-speaker being taken by Sergei Baburin.
"We have reached agreement with all the deputies that the faction will now deal with only substantial matters," Rogozin said. "We have settled all our differences." Rogozin stressed that "the majority of deputies" have agreed to work together and no attempt was made to wreck today's sitting.
The first sitting of the faction, presided by Rogozin, gathered 28 deputies, except ex-leader Glazyev. "As regards Mr. Glazyev, we'll take a decision on him when he comes having blown off steam after the presidential campaign," Rogozin said.
"I would very much like Motherland to develop more efficiently and become the second largest faction in the State Duma," its leader said. In his opinion, arranging the life inside of the faction can contribute to the forming in its place a party of the same name.
The second congress of bloc-forming parties who intend to form a party is scheduled for April. A new party will preserve the same makeup as the bloc and preserve "all the bonuses and preferences the bloc had", Rogozin said. This concerns the possibility of nominating candidates of the party at regional elections, participation in gubernatorial elections, he said.
