Anger brews as Russia moves to approve pension age hike

Record ID: 1357930

  • Title: Anger brews as Russia moves to approve pension age hike
  • Date: 26th September 2018
  • Summary: POSTER SHOWING PHOTO OF RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER, DMITRI MEDVEDEV, SIGN READING (Russian): 'PEOPLE'S ENEMY'
  • Embargoed: 10th October 2018 12:02
  • Keywords: Russia pensions Russia pension reform Russia pension law Russia Duma pension reform Russian parliament pension law
  • Location: MOSCOW, RUSSIA
  • City: MOSCOW, RUSSIA
  • Country: Russia
  • Topics: Lawmaking,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA0048Z9KJEV
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Russia's lower house of parliament, State Duma, on Wednesday (September 26) passed an amended draft law on the second reading that would raise the retirement age.
    The draft legislation has been amended in line with President Vladimir Putin proposals to soften reforms following mass protests across Russia.
    The controversial measure, meant to relieve pressure on state coffers, has galvanised broad-ranging factions of the population, ranging from fervent anti-Kremlin activists to Communist lawmakers who rarely speak out against the authorities.
    Some 30 detractors of the bill, including opposition figures and pension-age Muscovites, gathered outside the State Duma on Wednesday morning to express their discontent while lawmakers inside unanimously passed the bill in its second reading.
    Facing growing discontent and a dip in his buoyant popularity, Putin watered down the draft legislation last month.
    The reforms now envisage raising the retirement age for men to 65 from 60 and to 60 from 55 for women. Average life expectancy in Russia for men is 66 and for women 77.
    But the concessions made by Putin, who once promised he would never raise the retirement age, have not smothered discontent.
    Inside parliament, speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said lawmakers had found a consensus on the on issue. "Everyone supported the president's amendments," he said.
    The State Duma said 385 lawmakers in the 450-seat legislature had voted in favour of the bill. There were no votes against and no abstentions.
    Communist party leader Gennady Zyuganov pledged his party, which holds 42 seats in parliament, would continue opposing the reform.
    The draft legislation must still undergo a third reading and be approved by the senate before being signed into law by Putin.
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