Soviet party issues blueprint for democracy

Press, 28 May 1988, Page 10

Soviet party issues blueprint for democracy

NZPA-Reuter

Moscow

The Soviet Communist leadership has put forward a bold blueprint for discussion by grassroots party members next month to make the country more democratic and strengthen citizens’ rights.

Ten “theses” reviewing the progress of Kremlin reforms and suggesting further developments were passed by a full meeting of the Central Committee earlier this week.

The approval signalled that the Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, had consolidated his position against conservative opposition to the social and political reforms he wants to push through. The aim of the plan was to draw ordinary people into public affairs from which they had been alienated and free the Soviet system from the encumbrances of Stalinism and red tape, according to a text issued by

Tass news agency yesterday. Political proposals to be discussed by a special party conference in June included: — © multi-candidate elections by secret ballot to all party committees; © set terms of no more than 10 years for party and elected Government officials (with exceptions to be made only if 75 per cent of deputies to body involved agreed); ® the possibility of replacing Central Committee members between five-yearly party congresses to “assure a continuing inflow of fresh forces”

© establishing a watchdog body to supervise party discipline and financial affairs;

© the strengthening of the elected people’s soviets (national Parliament and regional Assemblies), which should meet for longer periods Analysts said one of the boldest proposals was to limit the length of time an official could hold office although a let-out clause could be used to enable senior men, including Mr Gorbachev himself, to serve for longer.

“The absence of limitations on elective offices upset the natural rejuvenation of personnel,” the theses said.

"Some executives started thinking that they had been appointed to their posts for life. They considered themselves infallible, abused power and neglected the interests of rank-and-file party members and working people.” In calling for a strengthening of the soviets, the theses also effectively conceded that the assemblies had become rubber stamps for party decisions. “The principle of strict subordination and accountability of party functionaries to elected party bodies should be followed while bureaucracy, Communist conceit and unwarranted secrecy in party life should be fought

decisively,” they said. @. Earlier yesterday the Supreme Soviet (Parliament), which always in the past unquestioningly endorsed laws put to it by the party, adopted new legislation on co-operatives only after forcing the government to review controversial tax rates on such enterprises.

The theses also called for greater control on the judiciary to avoid miscarriage of justice, more autonomy for ethnic groups provided this did not upset inter-national harmony in the Soviet Union and more freedom for public activity outside the party.