MOSCOW, Aug 30 (Reuters) - Acting Prime Minister Viktor
Chernomyrdin and leaders of the Communist-led lower house of
parliament on Sunday approved a deal aimed at building a
political consensus to save Russia from economic collapse.
President Boris Yeltsin and parliamentary parties are due
to sign the accord before it comes into effect. The draft is to
be delivered to Yeltsin for consideration later on Sunday.
Following are some details of the yet unpublished draft
deal as outlined by different officials and Russian news
agencies.
- The prime minister will need to get parliamentary backing
in forming the bulk of his government. Currently only the
premier is approved by parliament which has no further role in
forming the government. The Duma should revise the Law on the
Government in a month's time to include the changes.
- The president retains his exclusive right to nominate the
ministers of defence, interior and foreign affairs as well as
the powerful chief of the Federal Security Service.
- Yeltsin agrees not to dissolve the State Duma until it
serves out its full term in late 1999.
- Until then the Duma will not initiate a vote of
no-confidence in the government, while the cabinet will not ask
the Duma to hold a confidence vote.
- The law on mass media should be amended to introduce some
form of public control over state-run television.
Apart from the political draft the sides have agreed the
Duma's ruling council will meet early on Monday to consider
again whether to debate and vote on Chernomyrdin's confirmation
later in the day.
The Communist leaders have said they need more time for
consultations with their allies and Chernomyrdin and urged the
chamber to put off the debates until Tuesday or even later.
A separate economic policy blueprint was broadly agreed
last week but details of it have yet to be published.
Comments