Address of President of the Republic of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev

Sunday, October 16, elections for all municipal subjects start.

In fact, Tatarstan enters a new stage of political development. The municipal reform is being implemented, the gist of which is to improve responsibility and independence of local self-government bodies, to considerably broaden their powers.

For all these years the Republic has been adhered to such a combination of local and state administration, which managed to keep controllability, provide socio-political stability. Today, on the basis of the achieved we confidently are launching the municipal reform – to establish real democracy through general elections.

After the forthcoming elections local self-government will be spreading from villages and settlements to all regions and cities of the Republic. Authority not just come nearer to people but, in fact, it is to be implemented by themselves. The would be bodies of local self-government should turn into ultimate centres in adopting socially important decisions.

This poll is for ourselves, for each of us. We appoint our own authorities by participating in it. Probably the ones who are fond of political sensations would be rather disappointed due to absence of sharp debatable, annoying advertisement and other pretty dull attributes. Though real and at most approached to interests of a common man issues are being discussed seriously: the master like use of land, communal utilities services and public transport work, roads condition, countryside and urban development and many others. And such a contents of the electoral campaign witnesses that most of the candidates are ready to serious and creative work.

It is not the least that the municipal reform of Tatarstan starts at a time of social ascent, within the conditions of commonly recognition of Tatarstan’s achievements and right after high-scale celebration of our capital’s the 1000th anniversary. We need to move further on now, multiplying and consolidating what we have achieved at the level of the municipal bodies.

Without exaggeration one can say that well-being of each of our citizens depends on this poll. That is why electoral activity is of high importance. Otherwise, a gap in the government might occur – new municipal authorities wouldn’t be created the old ones cease to exist. Interests of common citizens can suffer from it. We cannot let it go.

I am sure, that we all will perform civil responsibility common to Tatarstaners and all together will come to the polling stations on Sunday. Our personal participation is going to form effective bodies of self-government, able to cooperate with the state government bodies and to solve day to day topical problems of population.

Thank you for your kind attention – hope to see you at the polling stations on Sunday.