Medvedev unveils political reforms

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Thursday unveiled political reforms in response to an outburst of protests, but warned that "provocateurs and extremists" were seeking to stir unrest in the country. Two days ahead of a new mass rally accusing the authorities of rigging this month's parliamentary elections, he proposed a range of reforms including the resumption of direct elections of local governors.
But in his last state-of-the-nation address before his expected handover of the Kremlin to Vladimir Putin next year, Medvedev warned that the authorities would not allow its biggest protest wave in years to destabilise Russia. "Attempts to manipulate Russian citizens, lead them astray and incite strife in society are unacceptable," Medvedev told both houses of parliament. "Russia needs democracy and not chaos."
"We will not allow provocateurs and extremists to drag society into their schemes," Medvedev said. Taking aim at the West, he added: "We will not allow interference from outside in our internal affairs." Medvedev's address came after December 4 parliamentary elections showed an unexpectedly sharp dip in support for the ruling party and were followed by mass protests against vote-rigging.
Tens of thousands of people took to the streets a week after the elections to protest the conduct of the polls while almost 40,000 people have vowed on Facebook to attend a new protest in Moscow on Saturday. It was Medvedev's last Federal Assembly address before he steps down for Putin - currently prime minister - to take his place after March polls. The arrangement has angered the opposition for being cooked up behind closed doors.
But in a clear attempt to show the protestors that he had heard their message, he announced reforms that appeared aimed at breathing new life into its political system. Under the current system, the Kremlin chooses new governors from a shortlist presented by the ruling party. The appointment is then rubber-stamped by the local parliament.
"I propose a comprehensive reform of our political system," Medvedev said. "I would like to say that I hear those who are talking about political changes, and I understand them." He also proposed a cut in the signatures required for a candidate to register for presidential elections from the current two million to 300,000 for candidates from parliamentary parties and 100,000 for those not represented in parliament.
He said the rules for party registration should be simplified so that an application from 500 people from at least half Russia's regions would be sufficient to register a party. The president said Russia should create a "public television" where neither the state nor the private owner has the ultimate influence. Medvedev also Thursday named former defence minister and KGB agent Sergei Ivanov as Kremlin chief of staff, who like the new speaker of parliament Sergei Naryshkin is seen as a member of Putin's inner circle.