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By Agence France-Presse
Russian legislators have tentatively approved a highly unpopular government plan to increase the age of public pension that led to protests and a record collapse in Vladimir Putin's endorsement notes
A man holds a poster reading "Putin! How to survive in retirement? "At a rally against plans to increase the retirement age for men and women (AFP / MANILA BULLETIN)
In a rare initiative, the The Kremlin's friendly nominal opposition parties – the Communists, the Liberal Democratic Party and A just Russia – rejected legislation to raise the retirement age to 65 for men and 63 for women.
A total of 328 lawmakers in the lower house or the Duma voted in first reading, with 104 against, according to results released by the State Duma.
Only one legislator of the ruling party United Russia voted against the bill.
The expected rise in the age of retirement – a first in almost 90 years – The legacy of the USSR, the retirement age of Russia – set at 55 for women and 60 for men since Stalin – is currently among the lowest in the world.
Given the low life expectancy of Russians, many will not live long The government believes that the burden is simply too much for its finances stretched.
Analysts say growing popular discontent over reform amidst disconcerting living standards may pose the most serious challenge to Putin during
"Enemies of the People"
In early July, several thousand people gathered in dozens of Russian cities during demonstrations organized by pro-Kremlin political parties and Putin's main critic. Alexei Navalny
On the eve of the vote, about 1,000 people protested in Moscow and about 200 people gathered outside the Duma on Thursday.
"We live very badly, people's patience is exhausting" Natalya, the accountant, aged one year, refusing to give her last name
"We are fed up to bring that, "she added during the protest on Thursday before the vote.
Valery Rashkin, one of the many MPs who came to support the protesters called the measure "a vile and inhumane law".
Navalny called lawmakers "enemies of the people" to support legislation.
"The Duma passed a law according to which tens Millions of Russian citizens will be stripped of several hundred thousand rubles," he tweeted.
According to the government, the increase in the age of retirement is inevitable. In Parliament, Labor Minister Maxim Topilin defended the bill, saying the country's current pension system was anchored in the 1930s, when life expectancy was "completely different".
"Times change. The economy is changing, "said Topilin. "We can not stay stuck in the 1930s."
MPs defy Putin
On Wednesday, the liberal daily Vedomosti reported that the deputies had been "advised" not to criticize Putin. the bill – during the debate.
But some Communist Party deputies, who occasionally challenge the government on social issues but generally support the Kremlin, asked Putin to take a public stand on the proposed legislation
. the most important laws of the last 14 years, it can not be debated without such an important person in our political life, "said Communist MP Oleg Smolin
quoting Putin, who stated in 2005 that there will be no pension, a survey published by the independent Levada Center this month showed that the level of Russian public trust in Putin had fallen below 50 percent for the first time in five years. At 48 in Russia, according to state pollster VTsIOM, the approval ratings of the Kremlin leader dropped by a record 14 points in almost two weeks' space. – 64% on June 24 against 78% in June 14.
According to pollster Levada, 89% of Russians oppose the reform and more than 2.8 million people signed a petition against it
Life expectancy in Russia is low for a developed country, at around age 65 for men and 76 years for women.
Unlike Western democracies, pensions in Russia are meager and many must work beyond the legal retirement age to survive or rely on financial assistance from their parents. children
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