Presentation for POL 328 Dr. Kevin Lasher

Post-Soviet Russia

Politics in Russia, 1992-93 Implementing free market reforms Economic pain of “shock therapy” versus high expectations Unclear Executive-Legislative relations Resentment over collapse of USSR (many left-over communists and “new” nationalists) Little experience with democratic institutions “Authoritarian” Yeltsin Ambitious Speaker Khasbulatov and VP Rutskoi

President Yeltsin Popular election to “President” of Russia in June 1991 Becomes President of Russian Federation upon collapse of USSR Weak constitutional presidency, wants stronger presidency

President Yeltsin Yeltsin halfway between democrat and authoritarian No unified party base Some compromise, little lobbying, expects “legislative obedience” Primary task to destroy old system and create market economy ASAP Economic transformation over building new political institutions

President Yeltsin Should have created new constitution and called for new elections in early 1992 Lengthy process to create new constitution through 1993 but unable to reach agreement

President Yeltsin Two Yeltsins Extremely complicated politician and man – with great strengths and great weaknesses Heavy drinking, isolation, depression, health problems, high energy/withdrawal syndrome

Russian Legislature Congress of Peoples’ Deputies Supreme Soviet (1068 delegates) Supreme Soviet (252 delegates)

Russian Legislature One-third reformist, one-third anti-reformist, one third “on the fence” Opposition pressure builds almost immediately Growing anti-reformist legislature by mid-1992/1993

Russian Legislature Very little understanding of parliamentary democracy Competition between executive and legislature for ultimate power Unhappiness over severe pain of shock therapy economic reforms

Speaker and Vice-President Speaker Ruslan Khasbulatov VP Alexander Rutskoi

Speaker and Vice-President Opposition to Yeltsin’s painful economic policies turns into opposition to Yeltsin Khasbulatov and Rutskoi join forces to topple Yeltsin Don’t back down even after pro-Yeltsin referendum in April 1993 Rutskoi does not “accept” ceremonial role of vice-president Khasbulatov believes he should be Yeltsin’s Prime Minister

Speaker and Vice-President Situation deteriorates through summer 1993

October 4, 1993

Post-1993 Plenty of blame for crisis and outcome Yeltsin did demonstrate some ability for compromise Opponents moved toward extremism Horrible results not really surprising

Post-1993 New constitution passed which creates “super-presidency” New elections with mixed results in 1993 and neo-communist majority in 1995 Yeltsin and former-communist PM Chernomyrdin find some “common ground” with new legislature Everyone waiting for presidential election of 1996

Post-1993 Shock therapy and privatization are slowed, inflation is reduced but economy continues to shrink Political system is somewhat stabilized, but economic problems continue Many next-stage reforms resisted or blocked by Russian legislature Example: Yeltsin unable to push through complete privatization of agriculture

1993 Legislative Parties Seats Russia’s Choice (Reformist) 73 New Regional Politics (Centrist) 66 Liberal Democ. Party (Opposition) 64 Agrarian Party (Opposition) 55 CPRF (Opposition) 45 Russian Unity and Accord (Reformist) 30 Yabloko (Reformist) 28 Union of December 12 (Reformist) 26 Women of Russia (Centrist) 23 Democratic Party of Russia (Centrist) 15 Russia’s Path (Opposition) 14

1993 Legislative Parties Blocs Seats % Duma Reformist 157 35% Centrist 104 23% Opposition 178 40%

1995 Legislative Parties Blocs Seats % Duma Reformist 110 25% Centrist 44 10% LDP 49 11% Communists 215 49%

Yeltsin-Legislature Relations Yeltsin and legislature exhibited cooperation and confrontation through 1999 Prime Minister Chernomydin somewhat successful from 1993-98 Not a lot of new reformist legislation passed Economic problems continue Yeltsin’s health problems impact executive-legislative relations

The End