NEW ELECTORAL BLOCS POINT TO SOVIET-STYLE ELECTION.

Len Karpinsky and Anatoly Kostyukov argued in Obshchaya gazeta (May 4-10) that the creation of the two new electoral blocs represents Yeltsin’s effort to run the parliamentary elections in the old Soviet way. Because both blocs are backed by the government, together they form a “two-headed” state party and leave the people with no real choice. Karpinsky and Kostyukov suggested that this latest government move could allow the executive branch to totally dominate the parliament, a process that they said began with Yeltsin’s suppression of the old Supreme Soviet in October 1993.

Lebed to Announce Plans May 12.