Putin's cabinet dismissal draws mixed reaction in Russia

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, February 25, 2004

Putin's cabinet dismissal draws mixed reaction in Russia

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to sack the cabinet headed by Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov on Tuesday has drawn mixed reaction in Russia, with supporters appreciating the move as "logical," and opponents calling it a "public relations move" in the run-up to the upcoming presidential elections.

In a televised speech, Putin announced he had dismissed the Kasyanov government and appointed Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Khristenko as acting prime minister.

Saying his decision was made "under Article 117 of the Constitution," Putin stressed that it bears no relation to any assessment of the performance of the former government. "It was dictated by my desire to once again delineate my position on the issue of what development course the country will take after March14, 2004 (when the presidential elections will be held)," he said.

The president's decision reflected citizens' emotion and provedthe president's respect for public opinions, acting Russian deputyprime minister Galina Karelova told the press.

Alexey Kudrin, acting deputy prime minister and acting finance minister, and Vladimir Yakovlev, acting deputy prime minister, praised Putin's decree as a "correct" decision.

Putin made the "right, brave and remarkable" decision, and the new government would accelerate the pace of reforms, Kudrin said.

Russian Deputy Education Minister Vladimir Pilippov said Putin's appointment of Khristenko as acting prime minister was fully "logical."

Sergei Mironov, speaker of Russia's upper house of the parliament, welcomed Putin's decision. Mironov is running for the presidency but has said he is helping Putin win.

"The president has assessed the work of the government led by Kasyanov as satisfactory. In this connection, the government's dismissal is a logical step and I support this decision," Mironov told Russian news agencies.

Russian industrial circles in general expressed the hope to maintain their dialogue with members of the current government andwished the government would pursue reforms.

They said they were looking forward to the government's resolveto realize the reform goals set by President Putin, such as doubling gross domestic product (GDP) and improving the military, social, medical, financial, tax and pension systems, the Interfax news agency reported.

In the meantime, some presidential candidates criticized Putin's decision.

Nikolai Kharitonov, the Communist Party's presidential candidate, told Interfax that the president's decision "is a public relations move designed to attract public attention to the president in the run-up to the presidential elections and to ensure a high turnout."

Irina Khakamada, an independent candidate, said Putin's decision would deal a blow to the stability of the country.

"The step by the president is so sudden that it would underminethe belief in any kind of prognoses of the president's actions in the framework of the law," Khakamada was quoted by Interfax as saying.

Many parliamentarians spoke highly of the achievements of the government led by Kasyanov over the past four years, viewing it ashighly effective in promoting administrative reforms, and introducing a brand-new mode of economic management.

Experts at the Russian center of economic analysis noted that Russia's GDP grew 26.5 percent during the four-year term of the Kasyanov government, while the inflation dropped by 1.7 times and the population's income surged.

Questions?Comments? Click here

Putin lays wreath to Tomb of Unknown Soldier

Russian President Putin dismisses government

Putin dismisses government, aiming at winning election

"Keep pace with the times" becomes ad title on NY Times ( 4 Messages)

China suspends crude oil exports to Japan ( 11 Messages)

Alstom, front runner in China's high-speed railway bidding ( 4 Messages)

Experts: China may raise renminbi interest rate ( 4 Messages)

Chinese language losing popularity in Singapore ( 24 Messages)