In Vladimir Putin’s first major political setback, regional leaders Wednesday voted down the president’s proposal to strip them of their seats in the parliament as part of his ambitious plan to curb the rights of the provinces.
The governors and heads of local legislatures who make up parliament’s upper house, the Federation Council, voted 129-13 against the bill, which would replace them with appointees. The bill also would remove regional leaders’ immunity from prosecution.
The Duma, the lower house, passed the bill by a wide margin and could override the upper house’s veto with a two-thirds majority.
Wednesday’s vote followed raucous debate, most of it criticism of Putin’s plan that highlighted cracks in the widespread support he has enjoyed since his election in March.
Vyacheslav Lyubimov, governor of Ryazan, called Putin’s bill a “state coup attempt” and argued that it violated the constitution.
Several governors angrily said they had played an important role in Putin’s election victory by endorsing him despite his lack of political experience.
