MOSCOW, December 27 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's upper house of parliament, the Federation Council, approved legislative amendments allowing political parties to nominate candidates for regional governors.
According to Valery Kadokhov, the first deputy head of the house's federation affairs committee, the amendments would enhance parties' role in the regions. He said amending the legislation was important for "creating a balanced political system and its sustained development".
The bill was proposed by President Vladimir Putin.
A Putin-backed, December 11, 2004 law cancelled gubernatorial elections and gave the president the right to nominate candidates. More than 50% of members of local legislatures must approve the nominee for the candidate to become governor.
