Coordination of local authorities in Russia and Spain: comparative legal research

Abstract

One of the consequences of the 2020 constitutional reform in Russia is introduction into Russian legislation of the «coordination» concept in relation to the public authority’s activity. So far this legal institution has not received detailed regulation. The institution of coordination of the local authorities’ activities has long been known to foreign legal orders, including Spanish legislation. Taking into account the current reform of the Russian legislation on local self-government, the author substantiates the relevance and timeliness of the study of Spanish experience in this sphere. The purpose of the article is to analyze the legal basis and nature, procedure and conditions for applying the institution of coordination of the local authorities’ activity in Russia and Spain, to determine the possibility of implementing the Spanish experience into the Russian legal order. The methodological basis of the study involves general scientific methods of analysis and synthesis, as well as comparative legal and historical methods. Russian and Spanish legislations, law enforcement practice, doctrinal approaches to the research topic have been investigated. Based on the study, the author comes to the conclusion that Spanish experience in this field is relevant for Russia. The institution of coordination in relation to the activities of local self-government bodies in Russia requires more detailed regulation. The author proposes approaches for the complex use of the institution of coordination in order to achieve an optimal balance between the elements of centralization and decentralization of public power.