Two candidates have been nominated for the position of speaker of Russia’s State Duma, the country’s lower house of parliament.

Axar.az reports, citing the State Duma, that United Russia has nominated incumbent speaker Vyacheslav Volodin, while the Communist Party has nominated State Duma member Dmitry Novikov.

The decision was announced by Viktor Pinsky, head of the temporary parliamentary working group preparing the first session of the 9th State Duma.

“Today, we adopted the procedure for electing the Chairman of the State Duma. United Russia has nominated Vyacheslav Viktorovich Volodin for the position of Chairman of the State Duma. The Communist Party of the Russian Federation has nominated State Duma deputy Dmitry Georgievich Novikov for the position of Chairman of the State Duma,” said Pinsky.

Pinsky said the vote on the speaker’s election would be held openly.

The first plenary session of the new State Duma is scheduled for September 30. The working group is also continuing preparations for the formation of 34 parliamentary committees.