Putin pushes for quick reforms

Full speed ahead for Mr Putin

By Russian affairs analyst Stephen Dalziel

Mr Putin seems to be making a determined effort to show that he is serious about carrying out reforms.

He has held the first meeting with his new cabinet and has asked the parliament to consider a number of important bills before it breaks for its summer recess.

In particular, Mr Putin wants to re-centralise power in Moscow and away from the regions - and to shake up the tax system, as an element of his economic reform.

In the two weeks after his inauguration, Mr Putin introduced a new federal administrative structure and had his choice of Prime Minister confirmed by parliament.

Legislation

Now, as well as announcing a cabinet which, though slimmed-down, retains many key ministers from the previous government, he has also declared his intention to rush important legislation through parliament.

The Chechnya war demonstrated Mr Putin's wish for a stronger Russia

It has even been suggested by the speaker of the lower house, the State Duma, Gennady Seleznyov, that the parliamentary session may be extended by three weeks to deal with the urgent workload.

At the top of Mr Putin's list is a bill which would allow him to sack regional governors if they oppose his plans for exerting greater central control over their affairs.

If sacked, they would automatically lose their seats in the upper house of parliament, the Federation Council.

Many governors already consider their powers to be under threat, following Mr Putin's setting up of a nationwide administrative network based on seven super-regions - each led by a representative hand-picked by the president.

Tax reforms essential

Another key area of legislation is aimed at simplifying Russia's cumbersome and ineffective tax legislation.

Many Russians fall into two categories: those who are forced into paying too much tax, and, the larger group, those who avoid paying any tax at all.

Until the government establishes stable and reliable tax income, any other attempts to introduce real economic reform will be futile.