| COMMUNITY |
| Message Boards Chat Feedback |
| SITE SOURCES |
| Contents Help! Search CNN Networks |
| SPECIALS |
| Quick News Almanac Video Vault News Quiz |
 |
|
|
Russian parliament votes down Kiriyenko again
April 17, 1998
Kiriyenko addresses the Duma
Web posted at: 6:28 a.m. EDT (1028 GMT)MOSCOW (CNN) -- For a second time, Russia's parliament has voted down Sergei Kiriyenko, President Boris Yeltsin's pick for prime minister.
Yeltsin's office said the president would immediately re-nominate Kiriyenko for a third time.
Parliament has one additional week to consider the nomination and another vote is likely next Friday.
Kiriyenko had lobbied hard to win additional support this time, but received even fewer votes than last week, when he was turned down 186-143.
In an open vote, 271 deputies voted against Kiriyenko and 115 for.
The Duma There were 11 abstentions in the vote, the second time Kiriyenko has been rejected. If the chamber votes against Yeltsin's candidate a third time, the Duma is dissolved and an election called.
He needs 226 votes, or a simple majority in the 450-seat Duma.
Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov gave an impassioned speech to the Duma before Friday's vote, saying parliament and the Russian people "have become hostages to a dead constitution and an absolutely incapable president."
"If we do not show courage today, we would all be participants in the final destruction of Russia. Our children and our grandchildren would not forgive us. We shall not vote for Kiriyenko," Zyuganov said.
But Yeltsin has insisted he has no other candidate besides Kiriyenko, a 35-year-old former banker with less than one year of government experience.
The Communists and other Yeltsin foes in the Duma say that Kiriyenko is too young and green to lead Russia's government.
Kiriyenko met Zyuganov on Thursday, hoping to win his support. But Zyuganov came away unimpressed and said his faction would once again reject the candidate.
"We clearly stated that we cannot vote for a person who has no team, no clear program and insufficient experience," Zyuganov said.
In his weekly radio address Friday, Yeltsin painted a business-as-usual picture.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
Newsmaker profiles:
- Boris Yeltsin - Russian President
- Viktor Chernomyrdin - Former Russian Prime Minister
Related stories:
- Yeltsin nominee rejected on first try - April 10, 1998
- Russia's Duma to vote on new prime minister - April 10, 1998
- Communists threaten to block Yeltsin's choice for PM - March 29, 1998
- Chernomyrdin to run for Russia's presidency in 2000 - March 28, 1998
- Yeltsin nominates prime minister, urges swift action - March 27, 1998
- Kirienko begins search for new Russian Cabinet - March 24, 1998
Related sites:
Note: Pages will open in a new browser windowExternal sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.
|
Sound off on our message boards & chat |
|
© 1998 Cable News Network, Inc.
A Time Warner Company
All Rights Reserved.