DATE=5/18/99
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-43430
TITLE=RUSSIA PRIME MINISTER VOTE
BYLINE=CHALLISS MCDONOUGH
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE LOWER HOUSE OF RUSSIA'S PARLIAMENT IS PREPARING TO
VOTE WEDNESDAY ON PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN'S APPOINTMENT OF A NEW
PRIME MINISTER. MR. YELTSIN'S CANDIDATE -- SERGEI STEPASHIN --
WOULD REPLACE THE POPULAR YEVGENY PRIMAKOV WHO THE PRESIDENT
DISMISSED LAST WEEK. V-O-A'S CHALLISS MCDONOUGH IN MOSCOW
REPORTS MR. STEPASHIN HAS BEEN MAKING THE ROUNDS, GATHERING
SUPPORT AHEAD OF WEDNESDAY'S VOTE.
TEXT: MOST RUSSIAN LAWMAKERS ORIGINALLY REJECTED THE IDEA OF
REPLACING THE POPULAR YEVGENY PRIMAKOV WITH ANYONE -- LET ALONE A
YELTSIN LOYALIST WITH TIES TO THE MILITARY AND THE INTELLIGENCE
COMMUNITY.
BUT ACTING PRIME MINISTER SERGEI STEPASHIN SPENT THE DAY BEFORE
THE VOTE VISITING THE MAJOR FACTIONS IN PARLIAMENT, TRYING TO WIN
THEM OVER. AND IT APPEARS TO BE WORKING.
INFLUENTIAL LAWMAKER VLADIMIR LUKIN HEADS THE INTERNATIONAL
AFFAIRS COMMITTEE IN THE LOWER HOUSE.
/// LUKIN ACT - IN RUSSIAN - FADE UNDER ///
HE SAYS MR. STEPASHIN'S CHANCES OF WINNING APPROVAL ON THE FIRST
VOTE ARE GOOD -- BECAUSE IF HE LOSES, THERE WILL BE ANOTHER
PERIOD OF UNCERTAINTY.
ANALYSTS SAY INSTABILITY IS THE LAST THING RUSSIAN LAWMAKERS
WANT. AND THE CANDIDATE HAS GONE TO GREAT LENGTHS TO REASSURE
THEM THAT HE WILL STICK WITH MOST OF THE POLICIES OF HIS
PREDECESSOR. HE SAYS MR. PRIMAKOV'S CABINET WILL REMAIN LARGELY
INTACT.
BUT MR. STEPASHIN ALSO HAS TRIED TO DISTANCE HIMSELF FROM THE
FORMER GOVERNMENT, AT LEAST ENOUGH TO JUSTIFY REPLACING IT.
HE HAS PROMISED TO TACKLE RUSSIA'S ECONOMIC CRISIS MORE
AGGRESSIVELY THAN MR. PRIMAKOV.
AND MR. STEPASHIN ISSUED AN ULTIMATUM TO LAWMAKERS. HE TOLD
REPORTERS HE WOULD CALL FOR A CONFIDENCE VOTE IF PARLIAMENT
REJECTS AN UNPOPULAR PACKAGE OF LAWS RECOMMENDED BY THE
INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND.
BETWEEN THE TOUGH TALK AND THE REASSURANCES, SUPPORT FOR MR.
STEPASHIN IS GROWING.
IF THE LOWER HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT REJECTS THE PRESIDENT'S
CANDIDATE THREE TIMES, MR. YELTSIN MUST DISSOLVE THE ASSEMBLY AND
CALL NEW ELECTIONS.
ANALYST ANDRE RYABOV OF THE MOSCOW-BASED CARNEGIE INSTITUTE SAYS
PARLIAMENT IS LIKELY TO APPROVE THE PRESIDENT'S CANDIDATE JUST AS
IT REJECTED PROPOSALS TO IMPEACH MR. YELTSIN LAST WEEK. BUT HE
SAYS NEITHER VICTORY IS NECESSARILY A SIGN OF MR. YELTSIN'S
STRENGTH.
/// RYABOV ACT ///
TODAY HE IS A WEAK POLITICAL FIGURE. BUT HIS OPPONENTS
AND HIS COMPETITORS ARE WEAKER THAN HE IS.
/// END RYABOV ACT ///
MR. RIABOV SAYS MOST LAWMAKERS SIMPLY WANT TO HOLD ONTO THEIR
JOBS AND ARE NOT WILLING TO RISK A NEW ELECTION.
BUT HE SAYS THERE IS A GOOD SIDE TO THE SHOWDOWN BETWEEN THE
PRESIDENT AND PARLIAMENT. MR. RIABOV SAYS THAT BEFORE THE
IMPEACHMENT VOTE, MANY FEARED MR. YELTSIN WOULD USE FORCE TO
FIGHT OFF THE CHALLENGE FROM LAWMAKERS.
BUT THAT DID NOT HAPPEN -- BOTH SIDES STUCK TO THE PROCEDURES
LAID OUT IN RUSSIA'S CONSTITUTION. THAT, MR. RIABOV SAYS, HAS
STRENGTHENED THE RULE OF LAW IN RUSSIA. (SIGNED)
NEB/CEM/JWH
18-May-99 11:58 AM EDT (1558 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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