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The erratic actions of deputy Semyonov (Ed. on allowing parliament
members to engage in business at the same time) represents a strange and
irresponsible PR action. He proposes a barbarian variant [of the draft
law] that will lead to a complete merger of the authorities and the
oligarchs. The present prohibition on entrepreneurial activity [for
deputies of the State Duma] is feeble, but it is still a prohibition
that blocks oligarchisation of the legislative authority.
I submitted contrary amendments to the law "On the General Principles of
Organisation of the State Executive Authorities". I propose that the law
should stipulate that all the candidates to the deputies of regional
parliaments must work on a professional basis. They do not have to be
lawyers, but they should work as politicians, rather than businessmen.
Such a provision is at present envisaged in the laws of only seven
Russian regions.
In other regions it is up to the local authorities to decide whether
business should go into power or not. This is not right. In civilised
countries any lobbyist function is separated from that of the deputy.
See also:
"A Separate Body for Lobbyists Should Be Created." By Alexei Melnikov.
Gazeta.ru, December 2, 2002
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