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Where there is no law, but every man does what is right in his own eyes, there is the least of real liberty
Henry M. Robert

"I am Not Pinochet. My Name is Stepashin"

25 May, 1999 - 00:00

By Vitaly PORTNYKOV, The Day
The Lower House of the Russian Parliament has confirmed Sergei Stepashin
as the new Prime Minister in the very first vote. This outcome was not
a very big surprise; even in the morning it was clear that he would be
approved. In fact, some of the lawmakers did not register and did not vote
lest they create the impression of the new Premier's complete triumph.

The day prior to the plenary session word spread in the Duma lobby (and
the NTV channel made much of it) that President Yeltsin will not propose
Stepashin's candidacy, replacing him by First Vice Premier Nikolai Aksenenko,
Minister of Communications being actively supported by Boris Berezovsky.

Mr. Berezovsky, however, expressly denied any involvement in the formation
of the new Cabinet, while changing the candidacy on the date of the vote
looked totally unrealistic. The Deputies heaved a sigh of relief as the
President's Duma representative announced Stepashin's name. The candidate
made a brief presentation, stressing the need to support domestic industries,
help the military-industrial sector, and decriminalize the economy. Mr.
Stepashin resolutely opposed allegations about him being another Pinochet.
"I am not Pinochet. My name is Stepashin," he declared. Faction representatives
taking the floor left no doubt that Sergei Stepashin would pass muster.
They either stressed the need to vote for him (e.g., Vladimir Zhirinovsky)
or reminded those present of the President's innate unpredictability, calling
for letting the new government work normally (e.g., Gennady Ziuganov and
Vladimir Ryzhkov). Not a single word against Sergei Stepashin. Immediately
after the vote the President signed an edict appointing Mr. Stepashin Russia's
new Prime Minister.

Now he has to form his Cabinet. So far Aleksandr Zhukov, chairman of
the Duma's budget committee, has been invited as "economy" Deputy Premier.
And there is one other Deputy Premier, Nikolai Aksenenko. Media people
believe that Premier Stepashin will retain a whole group of Prymakov's
ministers. Leonid Kuchma's Press Secretary Oleksandr Martynenko told Interfax
Ukraine: "Ukraine is interested in Russia's economic and political stability,
and we hope that Mr. Stepashin's approval by the Russian Duma as Prime
Minister will facilitate this stability."

 

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