16 Sep 2009 15:17

Duma votes Aksakov off National Banking Council

MOSCOW. Sept 16 (Interfax) - The State Duma has voted to remove its representative Anatoly Aksakov from the National Banking Council.

Viktor Pleskachevsky, the chairman of the Duma's Ownership Committee will replace Aksakov.

The Duma's Financial Markets Committee recommended replacing Aksakov with Pleskachevsky on September 8.

Duma speaker Boris Gryzlov asked the Financial Markets Committee back on August 12 to look at changes to the NBC and removing Aksakov after the latter suggested the ruble ought to be devalued another 30%-40% in order to give industry a lift. The United Russia faction described the proposal as "anti-popular."

Aksakov represents the Fair Russia faction in the Duma. Pleskachevsky represents United Russia. All the Duma members on the NBC will now be from United Russia.

Two other Duma members currently serve on the NBC. United Russia's Vladislav Reznik and Pavel Medvedev are the council's other Duma representatives. Aksakov had served on the NBC since December 2002.