"I don't see in this country a more important celebration, where the legitimacy of government is concerned," he remarked to Novosti.
"A head of state's swearing in is a landmark event, and it certainly needs a special ceremony to emphasise its own significance as the top says to its nation: 'It is finished! Be it so!'" As he was describing the gala patterns for Novosti, Mr. Zorkin made special stress on the attendance of parliamentarians and Constitutional Court members.
"The President swears to respect and protect citizens' rights and freedoms, and safeguard and comply with the Constitution and other laws. That is just the ritual that suits a presidential inauguration." Rooted in coronations, the presidential inauguration is essentially different. Tsars and Emperors were anointed by God, and their authority came from the Lord not the nation. Present-day Russia is a democratic republic, so its presidential inauguration is a secular event. Elected by the nation, the President receives his authority from the nation, and swears to it.
Every country whose presidential authority is strong has an elaborate inauguration procedure, Valeri Zorkin emphatically added.
