MOSCOW, July 22 (RAPSI) – President Vladimir Putin has signed a law to increase the number of members of the Russian parliament’s upper house by 10%. According to a document posted on the official website of planned legislation, he will personally appoint the so-called federal senators.

The Federation Council consists of two representatives from each Russian region, one from the executive branch and the other from the legislative branch. The additional 10% of house members will be appointed by the president himself. Under the law, presidents will be unable to dismiss senators who were appointed by their predecessors.

The procedure for forming the upper house has changed three times since the two-house Federal Assembly was created in 1993, but the Federation Council has always consisted of two representatives from each region. Initially, the regions delegated their governors and the heads of the local legislatures, and later their representatives. Starting in 2013, upper house members were elected.