Russia. Russian MPs approve pension reform in first reading despite protests
Russian lawmakers tentatively approved a hugely unpopular government plan to hike the state pension age that has led to protests and a record slump in Vladimir Putin’s approval ratings.
In a rare move, usually pliant Kremlin-friendly nominal opposition parties — the Communists, the Liberal Democratic Party and A Just Russia — rejected the legislation to raise the pension age to 65 for men and 63 for women.
A total of 328 lawmakers in the lower house or State Duma voted in favour of the bill in its first reading, with 104 against, according to results released by the State Duma.
Just one lawmaker of the ruling United Russia party voted against the bill.
Read More: Yahoo News
