State Duma Speaker Gives Major Interview on Parliamentary Development in Russia and Current Challenges for Lawmakers
Russia's constitutional reforms reshape governance and empower the State Duma
In 2020, Russian citizens supported President Vladimir Putin's initiative to introduce a comprehensive set of constitutional amendments, State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin recalled.
"These changes meet the demands of our time and are driven by the need for Russia's continued development. Today, it is clear just how essential they were," Volodin emphasized. "Under these amendments, the president delegated some of his powers to the people, enabling them—through their elected representatives, the deputies—to shape the government and hold the executive branch accountable."
According to Volodin, the constitutional reforms have elevated the legislature's engagement with the government to a qualitatively new level.
"This has strengthened the accountability of both the legislative and executive branches—not only to each other but, crucially, to society as a whole. And that is vital for achieving our national development goals," he stressed. "The numbers speak for themselves: over 70% of bills are now passed with support from all factions. Cross-faction initiatives have increased, and nearly every State Duma deputy contributes to key legislation."
Volodin also noted that parliamentary oversight has been reinforced, particularly through improved cooperation with the Accounts Chamber.
"The number of directly applicable laws has grown. Deputies no longer simply vote—they monitor how adopted policies are implemented on the ground," he highlighted. "Our priority is the country's progress, improving people's lives, and addressing society's social needs. For us, enhancing the quality of legislation means, above all, making decisions that align with what citizens expect most. That is the mission of the State Duma, and deputies fully recognize the weight of their responsibility."
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