Yeltsin Wants Putin As President Next Year

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Although OT, this is an important story from the Reuters news wire:

Ray

-- Ray (
ray@totacc.com), August 09, 1999

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Just click on Ray, the link works.

Ray

-- Ray (ray@totacc.com), August 09, 1999.


http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/19990809/ts/russia_leadall_5.html

Monday August 9 9:55 AM ET

Yeltsin Wants Putin As President In 2000

By Martin Nesirky

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Boris Yeltsin stunned Russia Monday by sacking his entire government and then naming his newly appointed acting premier, ex-KGB spy Vladimir Putin, as the man he wants to succeed him as president next year.

``He will be able to unite those who will renew the great Russia in the 21st century,'' the 68-year-old Kremlin chief said in a televised address, saying Putin would guarantee the future of reforms in the world's largest country if elected president.

It was a dramatic move -- the first time Yeltsin has so clearly named a preferred heir and the fifth time he has chosen a new premier in 17 months -- and the rouble fell immediately. Russian shares dropped before bargain hunters boosted prices.

Yet major world markets steered seemingly unperturbed through the latest political twists and foreign governments pledged to stay on track with Russia.

Opposition leaders said the move was lunacy and more about protecting his entourage than the nation's interests. Political analysts more charitably pointed to the emergence of Moscow Mayor -- and Yeltsin rival -- Yuri Luzhkov's new political alliance last week as the catalyst. Muscovites were cynical.

``What do you expect from an ill president and his troop of clowns,'' said Marina, sheltering in a doorway from rain.

In his address just hours after sacking Prime Minister Sergei Stepashin's cabinet and naming Putin as premier, the ailing Yeltsin said he had set December 19 as the date for an election to the State Duma, the lower house of parliament.

``The start has now been given for the elections marathon,'' Yeltsin said, reminding Russians that in mid-2000 a presidential vote would be held. By law, Yeltsin must step down next year.

``Now I have decided to name a man who in my opinion is capable of uniting society, based on the broadest political forces, to ensure the continuation of reforms in Russia,'' said the bespectacled president in slow, deliberate tones.

``He is Security Council secretary and director of the Federal Security Service Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin.''

``I have confidence in him,'' he said. ``I want those who will go to the polls next July to have confidence in him as well.''

Putin said he would definitely stand.

Despite central bank support, the official rouble rate fell three percent to 25.29 to the dollar in response to the news on Putin and the government's dismissal. The main RTS1-Interfax index was 5.98 percent off at 96.98 by 1200 GMT, a recovery from an initial drop and a sign bargain hunters had stepped in.

Yeltsin has not said so clearly before whom he would prefer to succeed him, although he has alluded to others in the past and there had been persistent speculation in Moscow that pointed to the 47-year-old Putin as a possible choice.

The president is known to be keen to make sure his successor is from his camp and will guarantee immunity from prosecution for him and his entourage, known as ``The Family.''

Putin worked as a KGB spy in Germany and then for the city administration in St Petersburg, where he earned the nickname ''The Grey Cardinal'' for his dour behind-the-scenes style.

He is seen as close to reformer Anatoly Chubais, architect of Russia's controversial privatization program. Chubais is widely regarded as having close links with the ``The Family.''

Putin is Yeltsin's fifth prime ministerial candidate in just 17 months. Yeltsin has asked the Duma to confirm him. Interfax news agency said Putin did not plan big changes in the government.

Ministers stay on in a caretaker role for now.

The Duma, in summer recess, has a week to consider the nomination, and is likely to do so Friday, Interfax said.

It was not clear what Putin's chances were. Some political analysts thought he would not get through on the first of three possible votes, after which Yeltsin must dissolve the Duma.

Few think he will fail altogether. Even if he did, the election commission said the Duma election date would stand.

Rumors had been swirling in Moscow for several days that the president had grown jealous of Stepashin's warm welcome on recent foreign trips.

Stepashin's failure to halt an alliance between regional governors and Luzhkov doubtless grated.

It was not clear whether an outbreak of fighting in Russia's North Caucasus over the weekend had colored Yeltsin's judgement.



-- borscht (passthe@sour.cream), August 09, 1999.


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