We should be living better than in Switzerland, but we're skimping on food: State Duma deputies sum up their work over the past five years.
State Duma deputies have retired for summer recess and are actively summing up the work of the eighth convocation. In just five years, parliamentarians have passed 2980 laws, but assessments of the results of this work vary dramatically among politicians themselves.
Social laws and the real standard of living
Vera Ganzia, a State Duma deputy from the Novosibirsk region, notes that every third law passed in the past five years is officially considered socially oriented. However, she says, there has been no real improvement in the quality of life for citizens.
"Judging by these figures, we should all be living better than in Switzerland, the world leader in living standards. But in fact, by the end of this Duma five-year period, people have started saving on food. What a social achievement!" the deputy noted.
Prohibitory initiatives and citizen fatigue
Furthermore, State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin stated that all restrictive laws were passed solely at the request of citizens. However, State Duma Deputy Alexei Nechayev, chairman of the New People party, noted that society is tired of constant restrictions.
"So many prohibitions have accumulated over the years that it's no longer clear what's allowed and what's not. And people honestly say they're losing the will to act," Nechayev wrote, but added that all Russians want "victory."
Military bloc, security, environmental and price issues
In particular, State Duma deputy Vasily Piskarev from Mordovia believes that parliamentarians have done a good job: over five years, they have passed 46 laws "protecting the sovereignty and security of our country and citizens." As a result, he believes, a legal framework has been created that effectively counters attempts by the collective West to interfere in domestic affairs and sow discord.
Consequently, Georgy Karlov, a deputy from the Sakhalin Region, took a similar position, noting that the adopted regulations helped strengthen the state's defense capability, and that the country continues to develop despite sanctions. Meanwhile, State Duma deputy Vyacheslav Markhayev surprised with his results, which he chose to raise around the issues of monstrous price increases, high utility rates, corruption, and low incomes among Russians.
Public opinion
As the State Duma concludes its work, Yakutia-based activist Vitaly Obedin wondered about the true level of trust in Russian government officials.
"Can you imagine such a popular official/minister in Russia (federal, otherwise you'll start bringing up Furgal) whose resignation/persecution would bring people out into the streets? Because they trust him and associate his actions with the country's well-being and achievement of its goals? Have you tried it? Does it work?" Vitaly Obedin asked his readers rhetorically.
