Naryshkin: Academy reform bill may be returned for second reading in fall
MOSCOW. July 4 (Interfax) - The Academy reform bill may be returned to the parliament for second reading in fall, State Duma Chairman Sergei Naryshkin said.
"If any significant amendments or additions are suggested - and I am confident that will be so - we will certainly return the bill from a third to a second reading, approve the adjustments and make a final decision after that," Naryshkin answered an Interfax question on Thursday.
So far the bill's second reading is scheduled for Friday. A third reading is due in the fall, the speaker said.
Deputies envisaged the possibility of upgrading the bill and holding a public discussion when they were drafting the reading schedule, Naryshkin said. "Otherwise what is the point to continue working on this bill and holding discussions, meetings and consultations [if it were impossible to return it for the second reading in fall]?" the speaker asked.
"There is a legal possibility to return the bill from the third to a second reading, and we will use it. By the way, we can do that on legal grounds, there is nothing wrong with that," Naryshkin said.
He said the government's submission of the Academy reform bill to the parliament last Friday was unexpected by deputies.