Deputies do not have vacations, as in the USA, they have work in the regions – Kommersant

State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin criticized journalists for comparing the deputies with US congressmen. Mr. Volodin said that deputies, unlike Congressional staff, “do not have vacations.” Instead, he said, they go to work in the regions.

The speaker said that 1,062 journalists are accredited in the State Duma, but they “absolutely do not want to change.” Allegedly, they “have become accustomed over the nineties to comparing the State Duma with the US Congress, and so they do.” “If you want to change the world, start with yourself. Colleagues, we don’t have vacations. There are vacations in the US Congress, they are called vacations. And we work in the regions. New Year holidays are January 1–2, and from the 3rd you have to be at work. And anyone who does not follow this ceases to be a deputy,” Vyacheslav Volodin is convinced.

He cited the example of the leader of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation Gennady Zyuganov, who “works seven days a week, no vacations, no holidays.” The speaker also mentioned in this context the head of the United Russia faction, Vladimir Vasiliev, and the chairman of A Just Russia, Sergei Mironov.

According to RTVI citing a source, the State Duma press service informally asked journalists to refrain from using the term “vacation” in relation to deputies. According to the TV channel, the press service explained this by saying that this word “creates a false image of the work of parliamentarians and does not correspond to reality,” which gives the impression that Russian deputies rest a lot.

Yesterday, January 15, the first plenary week of the spring session of the Duma began.

Details – in the material “Kommersant” “The factions have outlined their priorities”.

Laura Keffer