MOSCOW. March 31 (Interfax) - The government needs broader powers amid the coronavirus epidemic because the main coronavirus response headquarters operates under its aegis, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
"The main headquarters is operating under the government's aegis, so it is only natural that the government needs broader powers in the situation that all of us are going through," Peskov said.
Journalists asked Peskov why the government should be vested with the power to declare an emergency situation if the president already has such a right.
The relevant decision has been made by the State Duma.
"The president has this and a complete set of other powers. Clearly, he can do that de jure and de facto, and he obviously receives information to the fullest extent, however, the coronavirus response is being directly managed on the level of the government, and the headquarters is led by Prime Minister [Mikhail] Mishustin, who is working day and night," Peskov said.
He directed a question concerning a possible revision of the healthcare system's optimization, which resulted in a cut in hospital beds, to the Health Ministry.
"The Kremlin cannot and should not make any assessments, especially in the midst of such a dangerous situation caused by the coronavirus," Peskov said.
Far-reaching conclusions must not be drawn from the first few weeks of the coronavirus situation, he said. "Besides, there's no need to do that," Peskov said.
Once the situation is over, a profound analysis will be carried out, and conclusions and decisions will be made for the future, he said.
"No one should have any doubt that this analysis will be done," Peskov said.