Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Yeltsin's plan on who does what

Helen Womack
Monday 08 March 1993 00:02 GMT
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.

MOSCOW - President Boris Yeltsin appeared on television last night brandishing his own six- point draft law on the division of executive and legislative powers which he intends to offer to the Congress of People's Deputies this week as a possible way out of Russia's paralysing constitutional crisis, writes Helen Womack.

During an interview on the weekly Itogi (Results) news programme, he said that he was still hoping for an accord with his conservative rivals in the Soviet-era assembly. 'I am for agreement. I don't want confrontation with parliament. I don't want to command. I want a law on powers.'

And he produced the document which he said would clearly delineate the roles of parliament and the President. 'It is not a very big document but very clear on who should do what. Then there will be no argument.'

If the past record of parliament, which has already rejected an earlier truce proposal by Mr Yeltsin, is anything to go by, however, the Congress is likely to be hostile to the draft law.

The President obviously realises this, for yesterday he made clear that he was still pressing ahead with plans for a constitutional referendum on 11 April by publishing the four questions he intends to pose.

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