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Pastimes : Kosovo -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: John Lacelle who wrote (7873)	5/11/1999 6:00:00 PM
From: goldsnow	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 17770

Russian Duma to Debate Yeltsin Impeachment This Week; Vote Likely Saturday By Sabrina Tavernise and Natalia Olynec Russian Duma to Hold Yeltsin Impeachment Debate (Update4) (Updates stock index, adds detail on new laws.) Moscow, May 11 (Bloomberg) -- Russia's communist-dominated lower house of parliament decided to debate the impeachment of President Boris Yeltsin this week, threatening political stability and deepening animosity between the president and parliament. Approval of just one of five charges -- the most likely one alleging that Yeltsin illegally started a war in Chechnya in 1994 - - would be enough to begin the impeachment process. Stocks fell on concern a split between Duma and president could endanger passage of laws needed for new loans from the International Monetary Fund. Investors are also concerned Yeltsin may act preemptively and fire the government, analysts said. A Kremlin spokesman indicated in recent days that Yeltsin may fire Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov. If the Duma refused to approve his new candidate, Yeltsin could dissolve it, effectively blocking the impeachment process. ''People are beginning to get nervous,'' said Roland Nash, head of credit analysis at MFK Renaissance in Moscow. ''They are worried about the unexpected and what Yeltsin might actually do. You can't rely on Yeltsin to do the rational thing.'' Russia's benchmark RTS stock index fell 3.7 percent to 97.19. The most likely impeachment charge to be carried alleges that Yeltsin illegally started a war in the breakaway republic of Chechnya. Most analysts agree that charge will garner the required 300 votes to start the process. That will further harm relations with the government and president and could ruin chances for passage of laws needed to secure money from the IMF promised two weeks ago. IMF Terms The laws include an increase in excise tax on gasoline and some changes to laws to speed up bank restructuring, as well as several revenue-boosting measures. Primakov is meeting the Duma's political party leaders this afternoon to lobby for support of the laws and against impeachment. The government is expected to submit the laws today, said Chairman of the Duma's budget committee Alexander Zhukov. The other four charges allege that Yeltsin illegally brought an end to the Soviet Union, is presiding over the genocide of the Russian people, illegally ordered the shelling of the parliament in 1993 and brought about the collapse of the army. ''There will be an open vote on each point,'' said Gennady Zyuganov, leader of the dominant Communist Party. ''Any honest deputy will support all five charges.'' Still, other parties, such as the pro-market reform Yabloko, said they will only approve the Chechen war count. The government opposes impeachment, saying it would destabilize the country's political balance. 'Damaging' ''The process of impeachment is damaging and'' the government ''is categorically against the procedure,'' said Igor Shchogelev, government spokesman. As soon as the Duma brings one or more of the charges, Yeltsin doesn't have the right to dissolve the assembly, according to the constitution. However, if the Duma rejects Yeltsin's choice for a new prime minister three times, he is required by the constitution to dismiss it, creating a constitutional loophole that would probably have to be settled by the courts. The Duma will probably get to the vote on May 15, said Zyuganov, unlike previously, when the Duma put off the vote because not all paper work was ready on the charges. Most analysts think impeachment will not be carried out to its conclusion. ''We reckon that chances of successful impeachment of President Yeltsin are low but the proceeding itself will further escalate political tensions between. . . the presidency and the parliament,'' said Goohoon Kwon, senior economist at ABN Amro Bank in London. The upper house of parliament, the Federation Council, has three months to consider impeachment after the vote by the Duma. Impeachment must then be approved by the Constitutional and Supreme courts. The council can also decline to vote on impeachment, ending the process. ©1999 Bloomberg L.P. All rights reserved. Terms of Service, Privacy Policy and Trademarks.