Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Cabinet seats for old order

Phil Reeves
Tuesday 25 August 1998 18:02 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

RUSSIA WAS heading for a fundamental change in its political landscape last night after the Prime Minister, Viktor Chernomyrdin, confirmed he is considering a coalition government in which the Communist Party - Boris Yeltsin's arch-enemies - could have cabinet seats.

It suggests that the weakened Mr Yeltsin is resigned to making sweeping concessions to secure parliament's speedy confirmation of the new Prime Minister in the face of a worsening economic crisis.

Yesterday the rouble lost another 10 per cent against the dollar - its biggest drop in four years. Amid fears that a currency crash is only just beginning, queues formed outside banks for the second time in just over a week, as Russians sought to buy dollars and shopkeepers scrambled to mark up prices.

President Yeltsin - who awoke yesterday to a barrage of media speculation that his days are numbered - tried to limit the damage by announcing during a photo-call that he feels "okay". Yesterday afternoon he had a 30-minute telephone conversation with the US President, Bill Clinton, who is due in Moscow for a two-day summit next Tuesday.

Officials said the discussion focused on their forthcoming meeting. It will also have covered the Russian President's unexpected decision to sack his four-month-old government; the acute banking crisis, and Moscow's plans to reschedule $40bn (pounds 25bn) of short-term rouble-denominated debt.

By holding out the carrot of a coalition - or what he described as a "government of accord" - Mr Chernomyrdin may merely be making promises to lure parliamentary support that he later intends to break.

But Russia's restless legislature, so long restrained by a 1993 constitution that overwhelmingly places power in the President's hands, now smells blood.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in