| The issue of a no-confidence motion will be considered
by the lower chamber of the Russian parliament on June 18, 2003.
This decision was adopted yesterday by the Council of the State
Duma after the leaders of the factions discussed the YABLOKO's
and CPRF's initiative of a vote of no-confidence in the Cabinet
signed by 103 deputies against the required 90 votes.
The goal of this tactical alliance is definite: the present Cabinet
should be dismissed. According to YABLOKO's leader Grigory
Yavlinsky, the incapacity of the present Cabinet can lead
to destabilization of the situation in the country already this
autumn.
Question: Grigory Alexeevich, what are the real reasons
for your joint alliance with the CPRF campaign against the Russian
'White House'?
Yavlinsky: The present socio-economic policies
of the Cabinet are prone to undermine the country's independent
development prospects in the long-run. YABLOKO has serious claims
against the government's performance, constantly emerging conflicts
within the Cabinet, as well as the immature approach of the government
to work with deputies of the State Duma, when representatives
of the Cabinet only visit centrist factions of the Duma.
Question: Do you think this is necessary on the threshold
of the election to speak about replacing the Cabinet?
Yavlinsky: I can say that signs have emerged
that the government has begun considering itself as a provisional
Cabinet which will soon leave the Russian "White House".
They are already packing their suitcases, and it is easy to guess
what they are putting inside them.
Question: How do you think the centrist factions
will vote on June 18?
Yavlinsky: The decision on the destiny of the
Cabinet regarding the votes of the Duma deputies depends on the
President's decision on this issue. If the President orders the
centrist factions to vote for the no-confidence vote in the Cabinet,
the Cabinet will face a real no-confidence vote - these factions
will not vote independently. Judging by the results of the voting
we shall see the attitude of the centrist factions to their own
words and statements about the Cabinet. For a long time we have
had an absurd situation where United Russia considered it proper
to constantly criticise the Cabinet, via its leaders, members
of the Cabinet, inclusive.
Question: Today Prime Minister Kasyanov will make
a speech in the Duma about the socio-economic policies of the
Cabinet in 2003 - 2004. Maybe something will change subsequently:
for example, this will mean that the vote of no-confidence will
be removed from the Duma's agenda?
Yavlinsky: Kasyanov's visit to the Duma to discuss
social policy issues would have been impossible without the proposed
no-confidence vote in the Cabinet. Everybody knows that social
policy is based first of all on economic policy. Government proposals
on the economic policy for next year are clear to us in general,
as their proposals on the budget for 2004 have been submitted
to the Duma. Whatever the Cabinet promises us now, this would
not correspond to the real situation, as the economic base the
Cabinet is going to reflect in the budget for the coming year
is such that many of their promises have already turned into mere
words today.
See also:
No-Confidence
Vote
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