Veshnyakov: "Union" Referendum can take place in 2007-2008 :: Charter'97 :: News

Alexander Veshnyakov, the Chairman of the Central Election Commission of Russia, told in an interview to a magazine “Union state” (Soyuznoe gosudarstvo) that referendum on constitutional act of the “union state” could take place in 2007-2008, Interfax informs. Legislation of Russia allows holding a referendum on draft constitutional act in any span of time, and in 2007 and 2008 as well, A. Veshnyakov said.

A possibility of suggesting the constitutional act of the “union state” is provided for by an international agreement of Russia, Agreement on creation of the “union state”, Article 62 part 2, which reads that after approving by the “union state” parliament, the draft constitutional act is given to the two presidents of the member states, and then proposed for referendums in the member states, A. Veshnyakov said.

In the Article 22 of the Federal constitutional law “On referendum in Russia” specifies an order of putting to a referendum an act or issue of national importance. A referendum is scheduled on initiative of federal governmental institutions responsible for that under the international agreement, Veshnyakov said.

In this case an initiative to hold a referendum is formalised by a decision of relevant federal organs, Russian parliament’s chambers. A referendum is called by Russian president, in line with section “c” of Article 94 of Constitution of the Russian Federation, Article 23 of the Federal Constitutional Law “On Referendum in Russia”, A. Veshnyakov noted.