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Political Situation

Political Situation. Boris Yeltsin. Louisa Luk, Helen Li, Elizabeth Lam. Background Context. Gorbechev proposed the Union of Sovereign States , planning to rearrange USSR into a confederation body

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Political Situation

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  1. Political Situation Boris Yeltsin Louisa Luk, Helen Li, Elizabeth Lam

  2. Background Context • Gorbechev proposed the Union of Sovereign States, planning to rearrange USSR into a confederation body • June 1991: Yeltsin was appointed as President of the Russian Federation through direct popular elections ~ this marked a new era of democracy • Marlin Fitzwater: "Historic step for the Russian people and the Soviet Union" • Aug 1991: A coup attempted by traditional Communists to "turn back the clock" failed as Yeltsin rallied support of civilians and ultimately soldiers to fight for democracy • Gorbachev's incompetence left him and the traditional Communists disgraced; Yeltsin replaces Gorbachev by the end of 1991

  3. Collapse of USSR and CIS formation • Oct 1991 - Yeltsin convinced legislature to grant him special executive/legistative power for 1 year to implement economic reforms • Nov 1991 - Appointed new government (Yeltsin as Prime Minister); issues a decree to ban Communist Party throughout the Russian Federation • Dec 1991: Yeltsin and leaders of Belarus and Ukraine met - formed CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) ~ USSR disintegrates • Out of the 15 states of CIS, Yeltsin became the president of merely one of the states ~ Russian Federation • Russian Federation enters the UN

  4. Attempts to reform • Yeltsin proclaims Russia to be a democratic republic • He proposed radical reforms, including not only to democratize the government but to allow a free- market economy to operate • Reforms came under increasing attack by former Party officials, extreme nationalists in the CPD (Congress of People's Deputies) • Dec - Yeltsin lost special executive powers • Unable to issue special decrees to reform economy • Parliament and Yeltsin decided to hold national referendum • Would allow population to determine basic division of powers between 2 branches of government • Parliament attempted to limit Yeltsin's powers

  5. Tensions between Parliament and Yeltsin (1993) • CPD rejected proposals to share power • Yeltsin tried to address nation to propose special regime failed • CPD tried to impeach Yeltsin • Yeltsin must get 50% of eligible voters • CPD refused Yeltsin's drafts for new Constitution • RUSSIAN CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS 1993 • Yeltsin takes radical action - surrounds Parliament building • CPD retaliates by attacking legislative building • Parliamentary supporters quickly defeated - arrested • New Constitution approved by referendum • Presidential system created

  6. Overview of Political Situation • Yeltsin's emergence as the President of the Russian Federation ushered in radical reforms that saw Russia transforming into a democratic republic • Though most of the old institutions of USSR have disintegrated, the political atmosphere of Russia remained tense in the first few years: • CPD and Parliament still consisted of "hard- line" Communists who opposed Yeltsin's reforms greatly • This created divisions between the President and Parliament, resulting in clashes such as the 1993 Constitutional Crisis • In the end however democracy prevailed, and Yeltsin carried on with his New Constitution

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