NO UNCERTAIN TERMS….

Mintimer Shaimiev, president of Tatarstan, was unopposed when he won that office in elections in 1991. He was unopposed again when he won elections in 1996. His prospects should look good for 2001. But he is up against a two-term limit, with elections scheduled for March 25. Happily for him, and for sixty-eight other regional chief executives, the State Duma last week passed a bill to allow incumbents to seek a third and even a fourth term in office. Shaimiev, who is not popular with the Kremlin, has not said if he will run. Candidates must file by February 12.