Russian President Vladimir Putin on the air of the Russia 1 television channel spoke about the importance of amendments to the country's Constitution, which will be followed by a nationwide vote on July 1.
Putin noted the need to fix in the basic law issues related to social support, in particular, measures to protect children, as well as the compliance of the minimum subsistence level with the minimum wage.
“There are many other things. For example, the Constitution states the need for the normal functioning of the pension system, that it should be. But until now it has not been said that pension income should be regularly indexed, ”Putin said.
The head of state added that some other things that "matured, but were not taken into account in the basic law, now must find their place." For example, he noted that a law on the need for indexation of pensions already exists, but in the future, circumstances may prompt the authorities to adopt another law that will allow “adjusting the previous one on the need for indexation”.
“But if this is laid down in the constitution of the country, then no government in the future can not do this, they can’t not index,” Putin said.
He explained that the measures prescribed in the Constitution "will not be forgotten."
“So that they continue to work, so that they don’t be forgotten and later removed from practical life as I just said: there is a law on the necessity of indexing pensions, but then another law on the budget is adopted, which makes exceptions - this year this will not be done or will be done in another mode. That's all. And if it is prescribed in the Constitution, then inevitably all authorities and the government will be obliged to fulfill it, ”Putin stressed.
In addition, the head of state commented on the opinion of opponents of the amendment, arguing that they allegedly "lead to oligarchic rule and dictatorship."
“On the contrary. After all, the president gives part of a very significant authority. If today the president himself approves the chairman of the government with the consent of the State Duma, and then, without any consent of the country's parliament, he actually appoints the ministers, the situation changes dramatically - now the final decision on the chairman of the government is made by the parliament itself, just like on ministers. And the president in the proposed version has no right to reject them. This is a significant part of the authority given to parliament, ”he explained.
The president pointed out that the amendments are "a step towards the democratization of Russian society."
Recall that the package of amendments to the Constitution proposes to consolidate the changes relating to several socio-political issues.
So, if approved during the all-Russian vote, the document will fix the mandatory indexation of pensions, benefits and other social benefits. Also, a clause will be introduced into the main law that the minimum wage (minimum wage) cannot be lower than the subsistence level.
In addition, Russia will be declared the successor of the USSR on its territory, the status of the Russian language as the language of the state-forming people, included in the multinational union of equal peoples of Russia, will be consolidated. Children will be declared the most important priority of Russian state policy.
In addition, the current president of Russia is given the opportunity to participate as a candidate in the presidential election, which will take place after the adoption of amendments to the Constitution.
Also, the amendments prohibit the future president, prime minister, federal deputies and a number of persons holding public office to have foreign citizenship or residence permit.
In March, Putin during a meeting with representatives of the Crimean public explained the essence of the amendments to the Constitution of the Russian Federation, adding that it was not about changing the basic law of the country. The Russian leader pointed to the need “to reveal the social character of the state, its social essence, to fix some things that are related to ensuring the rights of citizens”.
“After all, we do not change the Constitution; we only make additions there. The first, second, ninth chapters do not change, which are the foundation of the Constitution itself, which reflects the basic rights of citizens. Nevertheless, life goes on and on: forward, both technologically and politically, our society is changing, society has become more mature, more demanding, ”he said.