Russian parliament moves to hold early elections

A bill proposing to hold the 2016 elections to Russia’s lower house of parliament earlier than planned has been submitted for consideration to the State Duma. The document has been posted on the Duma website and it stipulates that elections should be held in September 2016 instead of December 2016.

The document also states that despite the shift in election dates, current parliament members will be able to retain their employer housing and diplomatic immunity until December, when their services were initially due to end. The government had recommended the bill to be passed.

The first reading of the bill is due to take place on June 19, according to Duma representative Vladimir Pligin, who spoke with news agency Interfax.

On June 16, the Duma will file a request with the Constitutional Court in order to secure a confirmation that the amendment is constitutional.

The bill proposes to hold State Duma elections on the third Sunday of September 2016.

No explanation has been given on why a shift in elections is necessary. One of the possible versions reported in the media states that this is a way to save money. According to another version, this way the next year’s budget will be decided upon by the new Duma members. Yet another version states that September elections may have a lower turnout than elections held in December due to holidays and good weather, which could play into the hands of the ruling party.

The idea to hold elections in September 2016 as opposed to December 2016 was initially proposed by LDPR party leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky. State Duma spokesman Sergei Naryshkin said this was a reasonable and realizable proposal.

The Communist Party of the Russian Federation has spoken out against this change. They believe elections should be held in November. If the law on shifting elections is passed, the Communist Party plans to appeal to the Constitutional Court.