On December 22, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev gave his last “state of the nation” address. He was elected President in March 2008 and he is not seeking a second term in 2012. He said, “We need to give all active citizens the legal chance to participate in political life”, and then recommended that ballot access laws be eased.

Currently, presidential nominees of political parties need 2,000,000 signatures, and independent presidential candidates need 3,000,000. The Medvedev proposal would reduce these to 100,000 signatures for nominees of political parties, and 300,000 for independent presidential candidates.

If the rules pass, they won’t take effect in time for the 2012 election. Filing for that election closed on December 15, 2011 for independent presidential candidates, and on December 20, 2011, for the presidential nominees of parties. The 2012 presidential election is being held on March 4. See this story.