Duma MP: Navalny may engage in parliamentary work as party member

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny may take part in the parliamentary activity, if he is affiliated with a party and does not resolve short-term political technology tasks, the head of the State Duma department for public and media relations, Yuri Shuvalov, told Itar-Tass on Friday. “If Navalny is set to be engaged in political activity, he should choose the path taken by those parties that we saw at our place (at the Council for Non-Parliamentary Parties),” he said. “If he seeks a different role, in this situation I see no opportunity for his participation in the parliamentary work.” “The results of recent elections showed that almost every active citizen may indeed engage in politics in modern conditions gaining support of like-minded people and even with a few funds achieve particular results at municipal and regional levels,” Shuvalov said adding that “this result was demonstrated by those parties that were unknown yesterday and today started dialogue with parties that had already turned into veterans of Russia’s political life.” “Yesterday we took a decision to debate a pension reform that most probably with take place in October with the participation of non-parliamentary parties,” he said noting that the Council for Non-Parliamentary Parties had been working with the State Duma committees and engaging in evaluation of bills. “Everybody enjoys such an opportunity, including Alexei Navalny, if he really wants to participate in the country’s development and political life and does not set short-term political technology tasks for himself,” Shuvalov said. “Our party’s leader, Vladimir Putin, had already told this while answering a question how to become a president - it is necessary to create one’s own party and gain voters’ support. This is the course that can be taken by a person, who sets the task to achieve his/her potential in the political process not exclusively, but to work much participating in the country’s political life.” At the end of 2012 Navalny’s supporters set up the People’s Alliance Party that has not been registered at the Justice Ministry yet. Navalny himself did not join any party, but several days ago announced his intention to become a member of the People’s Alliance.