Moscow, 8 October 1997 (RFE/RL) - The Communist speaker of Russia's Duma said today that the lower house will decide when to hold a no-confidence vote in the government early next week.
Gennady Seleznyov told reporters the decision will be taken by leaders of the various political factions next Tuesday. The vote of no-confidence is sought by deputies dissatisfied with the government's economic policies.
Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin, addressing today's Duma session, urged deputies to give up their threats of a no-confidence vote. The threats followed hints by President Boris Yeltsin that he might disband the Duma if it holds up key economic bills.
Today, Chernomyrdin and his first deputy, Finance Minister Anatoly Chubais, briefed the Duma on economic results for the first nine months of 1997. Chernomyrdin told deputies that the period of instability was over and that Russia was entering a new phase in its development. The chairmen of the Duma's key budget and economic committees, however, later described the government's performance as unsatisfactory.
Gennady Seleznyov told reporters the decision will be taken by leaders of the various political factions next Tuesday. The vote of no-confidence is sought by deputies dissatisfied with the government's economic policies.
Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin, addressing today's Duma session, urged deputies to give up their threats of a no-confidence vote. The threats followed hints by President Boris Yeltsin that he might disband the Duma if it holds up key economic bills.
Today, Chernomyrdin and his first deputy, Finance Minister Anatoly Chubais, briefed the Duma on economic results for the first nine months of 1997. Chernomyrdin told deputies that the period of instability was over and that Russia was entering a new phase in its development. The chairmen of the Duma's key budget and economic committees, however, later described the government's performance as unsatisfactory.