Some Russian political leaders have advocated a consolidation of power under a strong president like Mr. Putin, one empowered to appoint and remove governors.
Although in practice the recall is not used extensively, even in jurisdictions where it is provided for constitutionally, it has been used to remove governors in North Dakota (1921) and California (2003).
In his proposal to Parliament, Mr. Putin also seeks the authority to remove governors if they pursue policies counter to federal law, and to name a replacement of his own choosing.
Other Republicans tried to remove Governor Robert Bentley by impeachment in the just-ended legislative session, over a sexually charged scandal involving a top political aide.
Each president in turn was the Great Elector, dominating Congress through a permanent majority, wielding influence over the Supreme Court, appointing and removing governors and mayors, freely manipulating the national budget and natural resources, and limiting freedom of expression.
But a Los Angeles Times poll released on Wednesday showed that those it deemed likely voters were solidly in favor of removing Governor Davis and replacing him with Mr. Schwarzenegger.
PAGE A9 COURT URGED TO REMOVE GOVERNOR As Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich of Illinois defied calls for his resignation, signing a bill into law and meeting at home with several ministers, the state attorney general, Lisa Madigan, made an emergency request to the State Supreme Court to declare him unfit for service and to remove him from power.
Another possibilty, then, is that the president is seeking to amass power at the expense of his detractors.In January he removed the governor of Lakes state, Chol Tong Mayay, and in July sacked Taban Deng, governor of Unity state, citing his constitutional power to remove state governors in the event of a threat to national security.
Groups have tried 31 times to invoke the recall to remove California governors, including the Republicans Ronald Reagan and Pete Wilson, but this is the first attempt to qualify for the ballot.
His legislation would remove the governors from their guaranteed seats on the Federation Council, where they hold 50percentt of the vote, and would also remove the local legislative leaders -- often the governors' allies -- who hold the remaining seats.
- The Senate votes to remove Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich from office.
