May 07, 2007

Tuva: Constitution Day Celebrated


The Republic of Tuva has celebrated the sixth birthday of its first post-perestroika constitution.

On 6 May 2007 the Republic of Tuva celebrated the sixth birthday of its first post-perestroika constitution, but debate continues over its political system.

Below is an extract from an article written by Dina Oyun and published by Tuva Online:

Today (06 May) Tuva celebrates it Constitution Day. The present Constitution of the Republic of Tuva, the nineth in its history (the first one dates back to 1921, when a Tannu-Tuva People Republic was declared), was adopted at an all-republican referendum on May 6, 2001. The first post-perestroika Constitution was adopted by the revolutionary Supreme Soviet of Tuva at its session in 1993. It was written under Yeltsin's slogan 'Take as much sovereignity as you can swallow!'

The preparation of the new main Law in 2000-2001 went in the tight political fight in between the President of the Republic who developed the draft law and the Supreme Khural (then the name of the Tuvan Parliament). Deputies did not approve some of the changes introduced by the new Constitution […].

They suggested that the most disputable questions in the draft law be voted on a referendum and after that the parliament in accordance with the old constitution (1993) adopt the new main law in the whole. But the other party insisted that the law should be voted by electorate as such either pro or contra but without any changes. […]

Sholban Kara-ool, 40, whose candidature was put forward by President Putin, [recently] took the position of the head of the republic.

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