St. Petersburg is preparing for the municipal elections

St. Petersburg will ensure transparent municipal elections in September 2014. Organization of the elections is a common concern of both the city election commission and the executive and legislative branches.

This was announced on April 4, 2014, in the Presidential Library at a seminar attended by members of election commissions of intercity municipalities of St. Petersburg.

St. Petersburg Governor Georgy Poltavchenko, who participated in the event, noted the special status of the city of federal significance. By today, 1823 polling stations and 328 constituencies have been formed. There will be elected 1500 deputies of 106 municipal councils. "The Election Commission, institutions which will host the voting will be provided with the necessary assistance of the city; we all understand that the role of municipal councils has greatly increased. They should attract businessmen who are willing to work for the city," stressed Georgy Poltavchenko. According to him, "in the elections to the local self-government there should be as little politics as possible, we need people who know how to work and are capable for practical activities."

Chairman of the Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg Vyacheslav Makarov said about the importance of transparency of the electoral process. "No one should doubt the transparency of the elections, we have to work in the dialogue with all people," said the speaker of the city parliament, adding that today in St. Petersburg there are 64 regional branches of political parties. Chairman of the city Election Commission Alexei Puchnin told the audience that St. Petersburg had completed the reformation of electoral system; systematic work had been carried out in compliance with a comprehensive plan that reflects the entire spectrum of tasks in connection with the elections to the municipal councils.