This article is from the source 'rtcom' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.rt.com/russia/482741-duma-putin-early-elections/

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Putin rejects MPs’ initiative to hold early parliamentary elections Putin rejects MPs’ initiative to hold early parliamentary elections
(32 minutes later)
The Russian president sees no need in having snap parliamentary elections after the adoption of amendments to the Constitution. The idea was earlier floated in the lower House of the Russian parliament. Vladimir Putin said he saw no need to hold snap parliamentary elections after the adoption of proposed amendments to Russia's Constitution. The idea had been floated on Tuesday in the lower House of the Russian parliament.
If there’s no unity on the issue among MPs and “there’s no such unity as the chairman [of the Parliament Vyacheslav Volodin] told me than I don’t see any need for an early election to the State Duma,” Putin said from the parliament’s tribune. If there’s a lack of consensus on the issue among MPs and “there’s no such unity as the chairman [of the Parliament Vyacheslav Volodin] told me than I don’t see any need for an early election to the State Duma,” Putin said in an address parliament on Tuesday. 
DETAILS TO FOLLOW The proposed amendments to the Constitution will transfer some of the presidential powers to the parliament, thus raising the question: “Does this State Duma in its current composition have the right to take on those new responsibilities?” he said.
But if the people, who go to the polls on April 22, back those amendments then they’ll confirm the Duma’s new authority.
The idea of early parliamentary elections was proposed by MP Alexander Karelin, from the ruling 'United Russia' party. 
These changes “give us great powers... to strengthen the role played by the majority of our population through representation in parliament,” said Karelin, three-time Olympic wrestling champion.
The leader of the LDPR Vladimir Zhirinovsky was supportive of the amendments, going even further by suggesting abandoning Presidential elections and allowing the State Council to select the next head of state. This is a consultative body set for significant powers under the new constitution.  
The biggest parliamentary opposition bloc, the Communists, said they would not have backed the idea. 
Think your friends would be interested? Share this story!