Putin calls for weighted reforms in Russian economy

MOSCOW, Sep 19 (PRIME) -- Russia should carry out weighted reforms in the economy and social policy aimed at changing the economic structure and supporting people in need, President Vladimir Putin said Monday at a government meeting.

“We must and we will develop a multi-party system in Russia, support civil society, including patriotically oriented and non-government organizations. In the economy and social policy it is necessary to carry out weighted, well-judged changes aimed at efficient growth and changes of the economic structure and increased efficiency from support of those citizens, which really need support from the government,” Putin said.

The government should not shift a burden of economic changes on to people, he also said.

“We should in no case allow shifting the entire burden in the course of these changes (in economy and social policy) on the shoulders of people. It is certainly necessary to get rid of even a hint of any kind of shock therapy. We should take into consideration not an average statistical, but a real state of Russian families, and the level of their incomes,” Putin said.

The results of election to the State Duma, the parliament’s lower house, are good, but it is only an advance, which has yet to be worked off, he said.

“The election results, I repeat once again, are good, but it is, without any doubt, only an advance from our people, and it should be worked off. I hope a lot that the government and the new parliament will consolidate their efforts and work to achieve goals which I’ve already named and first of all in the best interests of Russia citizens,” Putin said.

The ruling United Russia party won 54.19% of the votes in the State Duma election held on September 18 with 95.36% of the ballots calculated, while the Communist Party received 13.43%, the Liberal Democratic Party got 13.25%, and A Just Russia has 6.18%.

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