The amendments, modifying the procedure of staffing the Audit Chamber, got the support of 334 MPs in a Saturday vote, well above the 226-vote threshold.
As an explanatory note points out, the amendments are aimed at raising the profile and responsibility of the Russian President and the Chief Comptroller in shaping the Audit Chamber. Under the draft, the right to appoint and dismiss the Audit Chamber Chair and Vice Chair is vested with the State Duma and the Federation Council, or parliament's upper chamber, which shall do so at the President's recommendation.
Duma factions and committees may propose to the President their nominees to the position of Chair while Federation Council committees and commissions may submit their proposals concerning the nomination of Vice Chair.
The newly appointed Chair shall draw up a list of nominees to key posts in the Audit Chamber and submit it to parliament for approval.
Under the law currently in effect, the Chair of the Audit Chamber shall be appointed by the State Duma for a six-year tenure and the Vice Chair shall be appointed by the Federation Council for the same term of office. The two houses of parliament shall then go on to appoint six comptrollers to the Audit Chamber, also for a six-year term.
Now that they are through the Duma, the amendments will pass on to the Federation Council for consideration. If the upper house approves the draft, the President will sign it into law.
