DATE=8/30/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-237893
TITLE=RUSSIA COMMUNISTS (L)
BYLINE=RENE SCHNEIDER
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  RUSSIA'S COMMUNIST PARTY AND SEVERAL OTHER OPPOSITION 
PARTIES HAVE REJECTED A TENTATIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNTRY'S
ACTING PRIME MINISTER AND PARLIAMENT LEADERS.  AS RENE SCHNEIDER 
REPORTS FROM MOSCOW, THEIR DECISION NOT TO SUPPORT THE PROPOSAL 
-- OR MR. CHERNOMYRDIN'S NOMINATION AS PRIME MINISTER -- LEAVES 
THE COUNTRY'S POLITICAL FUTURE IN QUESTION.

TEXT:  JUST HOURS AFTER AN APPARENT AGREEMENT WAS REACHED BETWEEN
ACTING PRIME MINISTER VICTOR CHERNOMYRDIN AND THE 
OPPOSITION-CONTROLLED LOWER HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT OR DUMA, SEVERAL 
POLITICAL FACTIONS HAVE ANNOUNCED THEY WILL NOT ACCEPT THE DEAL.

//COMMUNIST PARTY LEADER GENNADY ZUGANOV SAID THE PROPOSAL WAS 
REJECTED BY HIS PARTY'S LEADERSHIP BECAUSE THERE WAS NO GUARANTEE
PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN WOULD COMPLY WITH ITS PROVISIONS. THE 
LEADER OF THE THIRD LARGEST POLITICAL FACTION IN THE DUMA,THE 
"LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC" PARTY, HAS ALSO DENOUNCED THE PACT.

THE TENTATIVE AGREEMENT WOULD STRIP PRESIDENT YELTSIN OF SOME OF 
HIS SWEEPING POWERS AND STRENTHEN THE ROLE OF THE LOWER HOUSE OF 
PARLIAMENT.  LAWMAKERS WOULD HAVE A GREATER SAY ABOUT THE 
APPOINTMENT AND DISMISSAL OF CERTAIN MINISTERIAL POSITIONS.  BUT 
THEY WOULD HAVE NO INFLUENCE ON THE PRESIDENT'S APPOINTMENTS TO 
FOUR KEY POSITIONS -- THE FOREIGN, DEFENSE AND INTERIOR 
MINISTERS, AND THE HEAD OF THE FEDERAL SECURITY AGENCY.

THE PACT WOULD ALSO PROVIDE A TRUCE BETWEEN THE COMMUNIST-- 
DOMINATED DUMA AND MR. YELTSIN.  THE DUMA WOULD PROMISE NOT TO 
HOLD A VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE IN THE GOVERNMENT FOR THE NEXT 18 
MONTHS, IF THE PRESIDENT PROMISES NOT TO DISBAND THE DUMA DURING 
THAT TIME.

BOTH THE COMMUNISTS AND THE LIBERAL DEMOCRATS, ALONG WITH MEMBERS
OF THE PRO-MARKET "YABLOKO" PARTY HAVE SAID THEY WILL REJECT MR. 
CHERNOMYRDIN'S CANDIDACY FOR PRIME MINISTER.  ///THE COMMUNIST 
PARTY LEADER HAS NOT RULED OUT FURTHER NEGOTIATIONS ON THE DEAL 
BUT WITH A VOTE SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY MORNING, TIME MAY BE RUNNING
OUT. (SIGNED)

NEB/RS/WFR

30-Aug-98 4:21 PM EDT (2021 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.