Transcript of the meeting:

Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, dear colleagues,

I would like to thank you – everyone gathered here today – for responding so quickly to yesterday’s proposal. I would like to reiterate what the proposal is about.

The proposal deals with establishing a non-governmental association based on the organisations, political parties and citizens that share common values connected with love of the country, improvement of people’s standards of living, strengthening of Russia’s power, and the search for just solutions in the social sphere.

I suggested calling this association the Russian Popular Front. You know that wording has been used at different times by different political forces – left-wing, liberal, patriotic and nationalist groups. But these are just words – what matters is what we put into the formula that is being proposed. And the following is being proposed: people who are concerned about the fate of Russia are invited to gather here to discuss the country’s problems and preparations for Russia’s parliamentary elections on equal terms. That’s what I would like to stress, on equal terms, regardless of the so-called political muscles and the size of the organisation.

Why do I consider this important now? First, the State Duma elections will be held soon, and this is a major political event in its own right. And it is very important how the parliament will be formed.

Second. Frankly speaking, United Russia, our leading political force, needs an influx of new ideas, proposals and people in these circumstances. Apart from the State Duma elections, we also need to think of the next stage of the country’s development – we need to establish principles, set primary goals and so forth. It’s no coincidence that I turned to the experts for help to work with us in resolving the issues connected with adjusting the programme for the country’s development up to 2020, which we call Programme 2020.

It should be mentioned that the adjustment of these parameters after 2012 is stipulated in the programme. Since Russia has overcome the global economic crisis, and now after working through the aftermath of this crisis, we will need to make some amendments in this respect.

We need to rapidly develop and modernise production units, we need to switch over to an innovative economy and resolve social issues efficiently and fairly at the same time. These two issues served as the starting point for the implementation of the proposal.

Let me say this again – all non-governmental organisations, which, to my mind, may include political parties, labour unions, business associations, youth and women’s organisations, should have the opportunity and the right to pursue their ideas, and promote the people who came up with these ideas, through tools of United Russia and the country’s parliament while discussing the issues on equal terms and making proposals to develop the country. I think that we will refresh our human resources and be able to brainstorm new ideas with the help of those people who are deeply concerned with the future of our state.

And, of course, the Russian Popular Front is open to all political forces that share such approaches. I would really like today’s meeting to be considered as the establishment of the coordination council, which would hold regular meetings (maybe once a month or every six weeks, we will decide how often). But the organisations making up the Russian Popular Front must follow its principles in the regions of the Russian Federation. That’s what I would like to say to begin, and now I will be glad to hear your proposals and suggestions.

Mikhail Shmakov (Chairman of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Russia): If you allow me, Mr Putin. All the participants of United Russia’s inter-regional conference, held yesterday in Volgograd, supported the idea. I think we can discuss or at least map out specific organisational solutions within the coordination council.

I would like to suggest the following. First, since this idea was widely circulated in the media we should advise all our units in the regions to start consultations. I’m referring to structural units of the United Russia and those of trade unions and all other public associations that are represented here. This is necessary to make regional units generate ideas rather than just wait for instructions. This is my first point.

Second, I think it will be useful to devise a document – a charter or a mandate of the Popular Front’s coordinating committee – that would outline the basics, that is the main objective and the fundamental ideas. Moreover, it should set out the organisational principles because certain regional organisations can be involved in the overall work at the regional level. But in general I believe that the central coordinating council – if this name is chosen for the coordinating body that will be created and will convene as you said – should include nationwide organisations with a corresponding registered status rather than smaller organisations. So, there should be certain entry qualifications according to which organisations can become members of this Popular Front.

Going back to what was said at the United Russia conference yesterday, the party has primaries. This should be taken into account at the preliminary consultations. Regulations for these primaries or preliminary consultations can be adjusted considering that the idea to involve representatives of civil society and various public organisations and include them in United Russia’s lists can prove life-giving. People who have made themselves a name in a certain sphere – be that in an organisation of pensioners, trade unions, an association of people with disabilities or any other public organisation – usually have vast experience. They also enjoy a good reputation in their field or in their organisation. These people certainly can bring in reasonable ideas in the run-up to the election. Most importantly, when they start working in the State Duma, they will introduce more thoroughly considered bills because laws have to help people live better rather than ban everything and make people’s lives harder. To my mind, this is the most important idea.

Vladimir Putin: I’ve noted it down, thank you. Next speaker, please.

Boris Titov(Chairperson of the Business Russia national non-government organisation):

Thank you. As a business, we predominantly represent not the commodities but the manufacturing sector. And so this decision, this proposal, is very important to us, because business prospers when society is stable and consolidated, when it has a common philosophy that leads to a united society, which is supported by an absolute majority.

We differ from each other very much, and there are many different views in our society. Therefore, it is important to find an idea that can unite everyone. In my opinion, everyone, including the left, people who are fiercely patriotic and those who are pro-Western, could be united by an idea that we think is very simply economically – the creation of highly efficient jobs. This is important for everyone, including for common people with big social packages, because wages are more important; they are a lasting and a stabilising factor. Even pensioners are happy when their children have jobs.

It goes without saying that business is certainly interested in this. With highly efficient jobs, business will grow and we will be able to launch new projects. This will benefit the state because the structure of the economy will change and become more versatile. We will increase revenue by expanding the tax base, which means that the government will be able to honour all of its social commitments. We have calculated that we could create 25 million jobs in the country by 2025.

Another working group is concerned with the professional business community. We consider macroeconomic issues and make estimates. The main thing is to determine the direction. We are now trying to pinpoint the areas where jobs can be created, and have already plotted road maps.

By the way, your proposal concerning a new strategic centre or agency is very important in that it could take on these projects. Many individual projects will be devised within the strategy of creating new jobs. We have a complicated system of administration, which is why it sometimes takes long to adopt and implement decisions. But this approach suggests new management centres, which would use project management to boost the implementation of projects.

In point of fact, this new agency could bring together the vast majority of society.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you. Next, please.

Vladimir Plotnikov: Mr Putin, big projects that start in Stalingrad [Volgograd] always end successfully, are always victorious. It is important that this vital initiative was voiced in Volgograd yesterday; we are confident that it will succeed. Thank you for advancing this initiative in Volgograd. It was a correct decision of fundamental importance.

Second, this initiative is important for the party because it offers an additional impetus for keeping connected to the people. Various social structures will have a venue for discussion, which will enrich the party, whereas the party will use it during the election campaign to analyse problems, to be able to resolve them with sufficient awareness in parliament. This is also very important.

The third thing I’d like to mention is that some people are envious of Untied Russia. Why is the national idea for you only, they ask. We respect Mr Putin too, and we may have our own views, but we want to render support, to be together, because the overall goal is larger; it concerns creating a coalition. It is very important for the party when the national leader is also supported by other social organisations.

And fourth, your have said correctly that this is evidence of respect for everyone here, where everyone is regarded as an equal. When this is a respected organisation, the party offers an opportunity for communication, for discussing things and for promoting the best party members. In my opinion, this is a good principle when creating an effective front, so that people will see that we in Russia can join forces to resolve the problems facing each family and also the state. Thank you.

Vladimir Putin: Next, please.

Vyacheslav Lysakov: I am not as well known as Vladimir Plotnikov, so it would be reasonable if I introduced myself. I am Vyacheslav Lysakov, the leader of the automobile owners’ movement Freedom of Choice. I happily accepted the invitation to take part in today’s meeting, which I see as a new round of dialogue between society and the authorities, when society can not only have a say, but, I hope, will become part of the official process. This would be appropriate.

In this regard, Mr Shmakov has started dividing the participants – the current and potential ones – and I see that my organisation is unlikely to be included, because it is an interregional organisation, although the media often describe it as a national one. As I see it, Mr Shmakov does not want independent trade unions to be incorporated in the front, which is not as it should be. The division should not be formal but based on the practical contribution of each.

Even if an organisation is not a nationwide one but is known for its constructive ideas, it should be offered a place in the assembly, in the respected coordinating council.

Mr Putin, I have two proposals. First, I would suggest lifting import duties on foreign cars (automotive related problems are what I know about most) for people with disabilities and large families, because, unfortunately, the domestic industry does not produce cars suitable for disabled people unlike some foreign-made cars, even though Russian-made cars are sold cheaply under social programmes. But if they buy imported cars, they will have to pay a very large import duty. I don’t think it is moral when the budget is replenished at the expense of the most destitute part of society. This was my first proposal.

The second one concerns large families, which need minivans or minibuses. Our industry doesn’t make them, and therefore I think it would be right to give such families subsidies for importing these vehicles duty free. We can devise a system to ensure that nobody will make money from this leniency extended to large families or people with disabilities. We sent our proposals to the Economic Development Ministry, which has not supported them. This is why I am raising this question again, because I consider it important socially.

And lastly, the cancellation of the transport tax. Deputy Prime Minister Ivanov has said in public that the transport tax will be incorporated in excise taxes, which has heartened the people. However, as it often happens in this country, the action was completely different from the intention. The excise taxes have been raised by three roubles.

We understand that we need road project funding, but keeping the transport tax in this situation amounts to double taxation. I am referring to car owners and transport companies, because the 18 billion roubles the Finance Ministry plans to collect this way, especially from the owners of powerful cars, and I don’t mean just Lamborghini, Porsche or Mercedes but also inexpensive Japanese cars used behind the Urals, as well as powerful and environmentally friendly, although not new, American and German cars, are not worth it. These cars cost between $8,000 and $12,000, not more than that. But we impose a (large) tax on the owners of these 150 hp cars, saying that it is a boon that the tax has been halved. This will not do.

This 18 billion roubles are not worth a social explosion which car owners and professional transport companies could spark, because all 5-tonne and larger trucks are 150 hp and even more powerful vehicles 60% to 70% of which belong to private owners. I am asking you to help reconsider this question, even though the decision has been, unfortunately, approved.

If the government had not promised to include the transport tax in the fuel excise, people could have swallowed that. Instead, they hiked the excise tax and kept the transport tax, which is not wise, not in an election year.

Vladimir Putin:  Thank you. But we still have time. Haven’t we agreed that we are here to discuss problems and propose solutions? What you said is perfectly valid in light of why we have assembled here and what we can change. However, I don’t think it would be wise to go into the details of each proposal, as many of those present would like to put forth their own proposals.

About the transport tax. When we were considering including it in the fuel price, we meant to raise the excise tax even higher, and then –

Remark: But a three-rouble increase is high Mr Putin –

Vladimir Putin:  But we had to raise the excise tax even more to compensate for the shortfall of national revenues after the cancellation of the transport tax. But we were wary of doing that.

We will discuss all of that later. We will identify the problems now to return to them later and ask the ministries to make the necessary estimates. This is valid again, and this is why we are here.

Timur Prokopenko (United Russia’s Young Guard): Mr Putin, you certainly offered some powerful motivation to the youth in your speech yesterday. Our organisation is large – over 10,000 lawmakers from local legislatures to the State Duma. We certainly need new methods to achieve unification and consolidation. Therefore, we have started a campaign, supported by the party, to identify young leaders who can influence public opinion in the regions. Over 800 people visited the website we opened for this purpose last week. Now we will sit down and think what we should do about it next.

There is a large number of youth organisations. However, not all of them are properly involved in carrying out the official youth policy. Therefore, since we are the largest of them – tens of thousands of members – we could act as a platform to consolidate the other organisations created in the Soviet era. One of my colleagues from the Russian Union of Youth is present here; there are representatives of Rural Youth, the Union of Student Communities and Young Businessmen. We will probably sit down together to discuss what we can do to unite young Russians. Young people are active and always ready to respond.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you.

Valery Ryazansky:  Mr Putin, I have a two-part question. I head a working group of the party’s general council presidium and my group’s task is to draft an act on primaries. We are nearly there – we have made significant changes to the draft so that the act reflects the discussion currently underway. In connection with this, I would like to say that we have developed good contacts between the party and the Pensioners’ Union. In the latest elections, we succeeded in putting over 700 representatives to various bodies of government.

The new Coordination Council you chair is certainly coordinating this work, supplying ideas on how to work with the older generation. We don’t have to decide about joining the Popular Front – we will certainly join in and be the most active participants there.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you.

Valentina Ivanova: Mr Putin, I am Valentina Ivanova from the national pedagogical association. First of all I would like to thank you for deciding to attend our congress on May 30 and 31.

Secondly – and most importantly – I truly appreciate the initiatives to raise teachers’ salaries. This is a breakthrough and the cornerstone of economic modernisation. Much has been done, and much has been invested in national education. Your latest move will certainly seal the impact of all that because it means attention to individual teachers, to each and every one of them. Remember what that teacher said yesterday? She moved me to tears. She spoke from the bottom of her heart. I think millions of teachers across Russia are giving you similar praise for your consideration.

It is obvious that implementing these initiatives would require a significant adjustment of the education modernisation programmes underway in the regions: more funds will have to be allocated or redirected from other programmes. This work will involve executive authorities. We are ready for public debate on the issue.

I was quite amazed that you mentioned “visiting every school to see the renovations made or the new equipment installed.”

Our organisation, which is five years old, is ready to consider these issues at the congress. In addition to professional issues we will focus on standards. We appreciate your support of the need to revise the standards. This work is getting underway at the ministry and at our organisation – we are involved as experts.

We also believe that it is extremely important to develop local government at schools – I am referring to school boards, parents’ committees and employers. I must say that Law No. 83 on autonomous institutions has placed serious tasks upon school self-government bodies. The Russian Pedagogical Assembly is positively contributing to this effort. The law makes it possible to increase salaries, as is seen from the experience of regions that have introduced the model of autonomous institutions. In the Novgorod region, 86% of educational institutions work autonomously and we will discuss this issue further.

Mr Putin, participation in the Popular Front means a certain attention, attitude and respect for teachers and our organisation. We don’t have to think twice about participation in the front – we will definitely take part in it. I’d like to repeat that when teachers, the most educated public segment, are involved in dialogue, results are bound to come. Thank you very much!

Vladimir Putin: Thank you very much.

Mikhail Moiseyev (Chairman of the Council of the Russian Armed Forces veterans’ national non-government organisation):

Mr Putin, the time has come for this discussion, and, as our colleagues have said, the choice of the venue is not accidental. Historically, we always choose a date based on historical events, such as the 70^th anniversary of the Battle of Moscow or of the Battle of Stalingrad. This year, we mark the 70^th anniversary of the start of the Great Patriotic War. Our society is waiting for consolidation along new lines. There is a proposal to start the discussion. I think the discussion is already on. We don’t have to procrastinate anything or discuss the principles upon which we should build something new. Our party is the most powerful organisation and we should simply invite all public organisations to join the front.

Today, the Russian Veterans National Public Organisation unites 1.5 million people. We will work together with the Interior Ministry, the Internal Troops, the Federal Border Service, the Railway Ministry and the Foreign Intelligence Service, to name but a few. This is a colossal breakthrough for society’s consolidation. This is priceless support.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you, thank you very much. Ms Lakhova, please go ahead.

Yekaterina Lakhova (Chairperson of the Union of Russian Women public NGO): Mr Putin, I think this is the third time you are initiating a discussion of the issue as to how to compel the government to consider civil society’s interests and how to make this society more active. We had the first civil forum. Our Public Chamber is working and we have public chambers in the regions. I agree with what was said today about the Popular Front and support the proposal made by trade unions today. I think now the main task is to prevent this front from being limited to the federal level. It is very important to set up coordinating councils in the regions and in local government bodies.

You said the programme-2020 has to be adjusted a bit given the two-year crisis and adapted to every region. Each region has its own issues. It is necessary to discuss all these issues with the civil society in the regions and to draft and elaborate federal and regional programmes at one and the same time. I think this is correct and it should be done faster.

Now, I’d like to say a few words about the charter or what was called a charter, although it could be a different document. At one time, in the most difficult 1990s, we signed the Charter of Women’s Solidarity. I think this has justified itself. Both the regions and local bodies started signing some commitments, assuming responsibility to each other. Therefore, we are your partners forever.

We recall 2006 when you heard our requests for a maternity certificate. Now, when I visit a maternity home and hear “thank you,” I understand that this certificate has improved the material base of maternity homes and women’s consultations. We had many initiatives like that and this is why I believe we are partners and this is very sensible and correct.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you.

Franz Klintsevich (Leader of the Russian Afghan War Veterans Union public organisation): Mr Putin, compared to all those present, I probably head a small organisaton – there are just 380,000 people in it. But it is one of the best organised groups and I always take responsibility for my people’s actions. We have long decided that a regional organisation’s chairperson must be a deputy in the regional Duma and a regional organisation’s head must be a deputy in the Regional Assembly.

However, Mr Putin, even with the most distinguished and respected people, it is sometimes impossible to achieve this even by using the opportunities I have.

When this idea was set forth initially, why did I support it so zealously at the conference? Because we discussed this issue at our congress and people told me, even demanded strongly, that I should make a move.

Mr Putin, I realise it is impossible to remember everyone. I’m a sensible man and I understand this. We have many representatives in the State Duma and at the conference. A cadet corps director who read a report – he is an Afghan war veteran who is the deputy chairman of our Rostov regional organisation – approached me in the first place and asked: “How was my report?” I told him that the party leader had already praised him. I think this is of enormous importance. Mr Putin, maybe I don’t quite understand given all my parachute jumps, but I’d like to emphasise…

Vladimir Putin: I also parachute jumped, so…

Franz Klintsevich: Mr Putin, this is true. It is practically impossible to unite the people who are sitting at this table. I don’t want them to be offended, but it is impossible to unite them. Probably, only you can unite them and this is the main thing. We are all sensible people and we understand that the ruling party’s leader consolidates civil society around him without much politicising because the country needs this.

Each of us must realise that tomorrow we should not try to push our people into the front regardless of anything. Excuse me, but Mr Gryzlov (Duma Speaker Boris Gryzlov), Mr Surkov (First Deputy Chief of Staff of the President’s Administration Vladislav Surkov) and Mr Volodin (Head of the Government Staff Vyacheslav Volodin) will go crazy when they compile the lists tomorrow. This is also true. This is why today we must pool our efforts around the coordinating council. Mr Moiseyev, probably, it makes sense to create coordinating councils in the regions. We should make them work because today we need the supporters of a new, advanced and serious Russia. When we start working, we’ll see which problems we must resolve in the interests of the people we represent. Otherwise, it makes no sense. This is what I think and I’ll be ready to set forth my position in the future.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you very much.

Andrei Andriyanov: Good afternoon. My name is Andrei Andriyanov, the chairman of the Student Council of Moscow State University (MGU). First of all, I would like to thank you, Mr Putin, for the attention you are devoting to young people. You met with leaders of youth and student organisations not long ago. A host of issues were resolved at the meeting, and your decision to increase grants was made public…

And I would like to highlight that the popular front is being established as a post-partisan structure for taking part in the development of civil society, student and youth organisations, and councils of young scientists. That’s a very positive moment. The activity of political parties in higher educational institutions is forbidden by law, but I believe that thanks to this initiative, the opportunity for non-partisan organisations to join the Russian Popular Front will affect civil society’s development very positively. It will help create the opportunities for radical social advancement that you have been talking about; it will attract young people, who are full of initiative, to put their ideas into action in the life of our country through United Russia. 

You devoted much attention to young people, to orienting yourself towards this part of society in your speech on establishing an agency for personal initiatives. I think that a large number of organisations, including Russia’s major higher educational institutions, will not only join the Russian Popular Front but will actively participate in its operation. 

Vladimir Putin: Thank you.

Vitaly Yefimov (President of the Union of Russian Transport Companies): Mr Putin, I am speaking on behalf of Russian transport workers. We have a very real sector, with its roots in our ground, seas and rivers; unions of river transport workers, sailors, and motorists make up our union.

What would I like to say about this project? You know, we thought a lot about it, but we didn’t know how to articulate our thoughts, especially because we have a lot of ideas on how to improve this work, and these ideas are often overlooked. We realised that we needed a mechanism for cooperation between the government and business, and we needed a party mechanism because we have a complicated system – there are many people and many parties, some of which I personally don’t like. But we need to take them into account. If this project can unite the potential of the party and real businesses, I think that we will be able to accomplish a lot.

What are the problems that we face? Actually, the transport workers have only one problem: productivity has significantly dropped. We had a meeting in April at which we discussed how to increase our profitability and competitiveness. And, of course, we will not be able to do it alone. Moreover, if Russia joins the World Trade Organisation, a new economic space, it will have an impact on transport workers because we will have to adapt to its standards and they ask us to do so first. This concern will be broadly raised by transport workers as will ideas to resolve it.

Your second idea concerns our opportunities. We’ve been reforming a new economic and political system from the very beginning. We, the transport workers, have always thought that we must remain beyond any party line, since one cannot be guided by partisan concerns. However, we have been working closely with United Russia for many years, and we have an understanding that when they support us, we will support them, as we did at the last elections, but it seems as if we need to go further here. If your idea is passed, we will bring competent people to the State Duma. Thanks to Boris Gryzlov, who fulfilled his promise to establish a transport committee, a lot has been accomplished. But there’s even more to be done if only because the people who were put in charge don’t seem to care a whole lot about the “diseased” state of transport. The chairman (of the committee) and several other people are really working, but that’s it.

We think that if we are able to supply good staff in the State Duma, we will be able to become a new field of transport, and that’s the most important thing. If we resolve the legal issues, it will be much easier to work. That’s one of the projects that should be implemented.

And we would be glad to support your idea. We will gather a presidium in a day or two, and we are thinking of holding a national meeting in the next few months, as we did in the old days, to bind our members once again. We need to arrange everything with the regions, resolve their problems, and work with them. And we will cooperate actively in the coordination council. Thank you for supporting us.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you. Please.

Sergei Borisov (President of OPORA Russia): Mr Putin, I represent a Russian non-government organisation of small- and medium-sized entrepreneurship called OPORA Russia, and I think that, without a doubt, all those present will support your idea. I am confident that the concept has a future if its work is organised properly.

We really have a good reputation, despite the fact that our democracy is still quite young: some 20 years. Nevertheless, the Civic Chamber has been a success. I’ve been working with it right there on site, and I believe that we managed to consolidate the institutions of civil society. And if we extend its structure by attracting political groups and those who, for whatever reason, were not admitted to the Civic Chamber, it will be an even more powerful force. Of course, everything depends on the way we arrange the work, what the management will be, and our ability to hear people from the farthest reaches of the country, including those who don’t like to speak from the podium or receive publicity. We must invite those who communicate with each other on blogs and internet forums to our circle as well – they must hear us. I believe that the development of the Russian Popular Front will result in popular ideas.

Of course, the feedback system must be arranged properly. We must hear every single voice, and every single voice must receive an answer. My colleague, the head of the municipality’s local department, phoned me today and said, “Well, this is all very good, but the process of developing any idea reminds of when a stone is thrown into water: in the centre, there is a splash, but it's followed by ripples that slowly fade away.”  Ideas fade away by the time they reach municipalities. That simply can't occur. There must be smaller engines working both at the regional and municipal levels.

Perhaps we will be able to turn the feedback system – I don’t want to say “referendums” – into something after the example of Swiss feedback referendums, through which people are heard and decisions are made according to their reactions. Why not?

I will be frank: if we were able to improve the primary system via the Popular Front, it would be a great success, since our organisation has not been satisfied with the existing system. We prepared and trained people, but we didn’t make the 15% quota. There must be something wrong here, something is not working. We are certainly ready to join and will consult with all our regional branches and unions, I think we’ll be able to suggest particular mechanisms for implementing this idea.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you.

Vladimir Gutenev: (vice president/executive director of the Russian Engineering Union): I represent the Russian Engineering Union. We understand that in order to resolve the issues facing the country we must consolidate the forces of civil society. Our task is clear. We must create a leading country, and it should be a leader on a global rather than on a regional scale. To achieve this we must primarily become an economic leader. We should also be leaders in education and science and, of course, the economy so as to support the huge burden of social responsibility that the government is now bearing.

The easiest way is to consolidate society on the basis of a powerful group that deserves confidence and support, all the more so since our union has experience. We are carrying out a number of projects, including youth and science projects, such as IT-breakthroughs, professional training and biotechnology. Everything seems fine. But, possibly, consolidation on a party basis (it does not really matter whether this is United Russia or some other party) has some limitations for public organisations, such as unions and associations, because it will deprive them of mobility. There is inter-party discipline and the necessary procedures for coordinating initiatives.

I think that if it had taken a long time to coordinate the proposals on the law on education, which caused a stir in civil society, we wouldn’t have suggested them in time. The same happened when steelmakers raised prices and the same was the case with foreign trade relations. We believe that the mechanisms that you have suggested will make it possible to use United Russia as a platform, a powerful and prestigious organisation with which the majority already has established good working contacts, on the one hand, and to open the social lifts, the personnel lifts that are regrettably closing down, on the other hand.

The more powerful a party is, the more difficult it is to integrate into it. This is why our Engineering Union supports this initiative. We do not simply welcome it – we are ready to do all we can for our homeland to become more powerful.

Sergei Katyrin (president of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry): Mr Putin, I represent the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and I’d like to say that business, at least the one we represent (and we represent the entire business community – small, medium and large companies with colleagues working in every region) has approved of this initiative.

Judging by the calls I received today from the regions, I can say that my colleagues in the regional chambers are interested in the process for nomination, the selection of ideas and of people, including non-party people. As you know, there are many people who do not belong to any party and want to keep away from it. There are many talented people among them, successful businesspeople and economists that we believe could be nominated to the leading bodies, as deputies, etc.

In this context I have several proposals.  First, I’d like to suggest at one of the next meetings of the Coordination Council thinking about the process for making such a nomination. How will they be combined? We are a non-partisan organisation and if we work with a party, we must understand what responsibility we are assuming for those whom we’ll nominate. I think that everyone present representing certain groups of people or organisations realises this. This is so because a nomination is not simply an honour accorded to these people but also responsibility before them and the regional organisations from which they are nominated. Therefore, we’d like to understand how this will happen. We will be responsible for these people, their organisations and regions. We will recommend them primarily for their talents and achievements. I think we should work out this process.

I’m sure that all the heads of organisations present here have voiced many ideas and proposals. I’d also like to make a suggestion. I agree with the idea that we should not cut off organisations that do not operate on a federal scale. We have 207 federal unions and associations in our chamber, but there is much more to it. We have 500 regional unions and they are not inferior in terms of the number of smart, talented people and ideas they have. I would suggest taking into account all these coalitions in the regions where coordination councils will also work.

I have worked in three convocations of the Public Chamber, and I believe that it is an effective institution that must be fully utilised. I’d propose involving the Public Chamber at the federal and regional levels. We have 52 operating public chambers in the regions and they are a significant force. There are many people there that are not members of the business community or political parties. These people represent youth or other organisations. They have plenty of talented people and good ideas. I think it would be sensible to invite them to our Coordination Council. Thank you.

Vladimir Putin: Thanks, Mr Katyrin. Mr Shokhin, please go ahead.

Alexander Shokhin (President of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs): Ladies and gentlemen. Like my colleagues, I view the idea of creating the Russian Popular Front not as an election stunt on the part of United Russia, but as a long-term project aimed at creating a new political structure.

The fact that you, Mr Putin, put the most emphasis on consolidation as a way to find optimal ideas for the country’s modernisation and innovative development suggests that relevant project proposals will be the main prerequisite for participation in the RPF. Public organisations willing to join in will have to submit such proposals to the Coordination Council.

The Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs has a whole number of strategic documents, including the social charters of Russian business, (so to speak,) programmes developed for the period through 2013.

Two weeks ago, we had a chance to tell you about our current problems and our outlook for the future, so I won’t go into detail now about how entrepreneurship is developing.

But I’d like to share with you a few thoughts related to the Popular Front. It’s extremely important for the RPF to serve as a mechanism for access to the State Duma for people with a clear understanding of the ideas developed by organisations they represent, as well as with the capacity to effectively uphold these ideas in the State Duma.

But rather than just trying to get themselves a parliamentary seat, they should be keen to do some concrete work in parliament. This will make it possible for us to make proper arrangements for the primaries. It’s paramount that those arrangements have a built-in mechanism for the protection of ideas by the people who develop and defend them. Organisations represented in the Popular Front should have an opportunity to run, so that our representatives are not eclipsed by party candidates.

The ideology of social, political and innovative mobility is, undoubtedly, of great importance. In my view, one of the Popular Front’s unifying ideas should consist precisely in offering opportunities for social and political mobility to people who now face a glass ceiling – administrative, party, or otherwise. If such a mechanism is built, including through the Popular Front, new possibilities will be opened up for people willing to participate in political life.

Society and the social situation will certainly change. I believe it would be appropriate to say right now that the ideology of the Popular Front and the consolidation of political and social forces seeking to secure Russia’s innovative development and modernisation will remain after the State Duma has been formed, particularly during the formation of the government.  The forces which will be able to prove the right to their continued participation in political life in December 2011 may, in one form or another, participate in the government or in the coordinating bodies under the government.

Our colleagues have complained that there are too few non-partisan mechanisms. In fact, they do exist: there are a lot of commissions, councils, and similar such things in the government. And it would be right to align the functions of these bodies after the new government has been formed, so that all the forces that have tested their ideas in the elections could have an opportunity to convey them to the government.

The existence of programmes and the availability of people to carry them out might also be one of the criteria to be used during the formation of the government under the newly updated law On the Public Chamber. I suggest that we start thinking about how to create some working platforms so that the idea of ​​the Popular Front does not remain unsettled until the next meeting.

If United Russia has no objections, some of United Russia’s commissions and drafts could be transferred to the Popular Front. I head the commission of the Presidium of United Russia's General Council for industry and entrepreneurship. It can be immediately established as the commission of the Russian Popular Front, and we can bring in all the interested organisations.

Also, I think it is important that the Russian Popular Front become a platform for the consolidation of the groups concerned.. Mr Shmakov (Mikhail Shmakov - Chairman of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Russia) and I often go to various meetings and usually speak one after the other. Unfortunately, we often sort things out through the prime minister or the president. I think that the Popular Front is a good platform for us to reach compromises without leaving the office.

This also applies to the business community. We have representatives of several nationwide organisations in attendance. We do have a sort of long-standing competition here: whoever is first to reach the prime minister or the relevant deputy prime minister to offer his views on a particular issue. I think that since you've brought the heads of leading business associations into the Popular Front, we must coordinate positions before submitting them to United Russia. In particular, we should include them in the electoral program or submit certain proposals to the government.

Now back to the tools to be used. The agency that will promote social projects on a voluntary basis could also be run under the auspices of the Popular Front. I think that many of our colleagues here could offer an organisational intellectual resource to start selecting these projects and include this technology for social mobilisation.

The idea is certainly promising, and should be developed as a long-term idea that will work beyond the elections or the next Duma. The fact that you use a broad group of experts to update Programme 2020, which is open to all organisations, makes it possible to orient the Russian Popular Front to the development and implementation of such strategies during this period. Businesses represented in the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (we have all kinds of businesses, including raw materials, consumer services, small and large businesses, and so on), are ready to join in this work.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you.

Audience remark: May I ask you a quick question, Mr Putin? Has the term “front” been approved already?  I can see why it was proposed, Victory Day is just around the corner, but still isn’t “forum” a better option?

Vladimir Putin: I have considered different names, but being in Stalingrad on the eve of Victory Day... left me with no choice. I came up with this version the night before. It was late, about midnight. I had different ideas, including the one you’ve just mentioned. There were doubts, too. The front is something that draws a line right in the middle…

If we speak about the Great Patriotic War, the biggest tragedy in Russia, at some point in time the front was very narrow, just a few metres, and brought people that were behind the lines together. That’s why we have finally decided that we should call it a “front”, not just a front, but a Russian front.

Alexander Shokhin: Certain parties have already said that they would come up with their own fronts. Won’t we have the first, second, and so on?

Audience remark: Mr Putin, may I say something? Maybe, you got the wrong idea. I didn’t mean to say that we should exclude from our common work organisations that are willing to join the front. I was speaking about certain organisational issues. If we don’t get them right, we’ll remain a discussion group. If we want to achieve certain goals, then we should take certain organisational decisions. That was my point.

Vladimir Putin: The last thing I want is for the entity that we are talking about today, and the coordination council, which we have established, to turn into a mere discussion group. This is not the point. On the contrary, it is being formed in order to highlight the most pressing issues and to propose solutions.

Just like one of our colleagues said: specific measures, like transport for the disabled, taxes. I assure you that everyone in the audience can come up with a similar problem in their organisations. However, we don’t need this only for the sake of discussion, we need to come up with solutions to these problems and work together to calculate the consequences of the decisions, develop the best ones and promote the people behind certain ideas to the parliament, so that they can formulate and adopt the necessary laws, create a comfortable, efficient legal framework, improve it and ensure that it is enforced by the executive authorities.

Mr Gryzlov, please go ahead.

Boris Gryzlov: Thank you, Mr Putin. It’s been 24 hours since you first spoke about the Russian Popular Front. We can see that this idea came up just in time, because we have already developed a prototype for a coordination council. I think it’s the first time we have seen so many representatives at this table. I believe this list will expand greatly, because many members of the audience received phone calls from people asking about the terms of participation. I got calls like that, too.

The number of representatives might double by the next meeting because many people and public organisations at all levels find this idea appealing.  

We don’t address economic issues at the expense of the social programmes, you are absolutely right. Perhaps Russia was the only country to increase pensions by 45% during the crisis. We haven’t ditched a single national project dealing with social issues. We remember the times when they told us to tighten our belts and hope for a brighter future for our children.

Our discussion today focuses exactly on how to develop the economy and take good care of people at the same time. The Russian Popular Front stands up for the people’s interests. Certainly, there are overlapping interests because everybody sitting in this room owns a vehicle, for instance. There are representatives of the transport industry, which is a vast professional group, whereas vehicle owners are non-professional drivers.

United Russia has signed bilateral agreements with most of the public organisations present here. That means we are tried and true partners. Take, for instance, Mr Shmakov, with whom we have discussed so many labour law provisions and amendments. We amended about 300 articles out of 400 in conjunction with the transport people, farmers, Business Russia and OPORA Russia.

We have like-minded people in the audience today.

We spoke about the organisational issues today. I believe we should set up regional branches of the Popular Front. Valery Ryazansky is in charge of the preliminary voting procedures, or primaries. According to this procedure, we should discuss candidates at all levels that come from among United Russia’s members and supporters. You have said on many occasions that there should be more candidates than just United Russia members and supporters. Therefore, we are working on certain changes that will allow us to expand the list of candidates and the list of those who get a chance to voice their opinions. It’s a special technique, and we will develop it. According to the existing legislation, we can submit a list of candidates to the State Duma that includes up to a 25% composition of non-United Russia members, meaning that 150 candidates can be non-members. However...

Vladimir Putin: That’s a good number.

Boris Gryzlov: Yes, indeed. Members and supporters of United Russia will support fair competition. They are good political fighters, so all the members of the public organisations will need to do is win the primaries. We will choose the most interesting candidates to work in the future Duma.

It’s good that we are having a constructive discussion today and see specific proposals coming up. We should set up an executive body, probably based on the United Russia party, because it’s difficult to work without it. Such a body could gather ideas and proposals and then submit them for the next meeting of the coordination council. We can do this, and we could start working on it right away.

You brought up a very interesting idea yesterday about the Strategic Initiative Agency. Indeed, there are many administrative obstacles to promoting interesting ideas to the highest level. I don’t agree with somebody saying that there are administrative and partisan obstacles.  Instead, United Russia acts as a driving force... I think we can combine our efforts and work together in this agency.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you. I want to thank you for the quick response. We managed to gather with less than 24 hours’ notice. It’s really important because we need to establish the forms of our cooperation and the underlying principles. We need to decide who we will invite to join us, and how, and, most importantly, make sure everybody understands what our goals are. It is one thing to declare it a regional party organisation, and it is quite another thing to get together to share opinions, figure out the details and define our common goals.

Let me thank you for being so responsive and productive today. I fully share the opinion that we need to address the organisational issues and immediately start working in Russia’s regions. Immediately.