President Vladimir Putin signed on 12 December a bill canceling gubernatorial elections in favor of a system where governors are appointed with the approval of regional legislatures. The bill passed the Duma on 3 December and the Federation Council on 8 December. It amends the laws on the general principles for organizing legislative and executive organs of state power in the Russian Federation subjects and on guaranteeing basic voters\' rights. Under the bill, the president will nominate a candidate to head a region 35 days before the expiration of the term of the current governor, and the regional legislative assembly will consider him or her within 14 days. If more than one-half of the legislature supports the candidate, then he or she will become governor. In republics with two legislative chambers, more than half of the representatives in both chambers must vote in favor of the candidate. (lenta.ru)