PARLIAMENT AND PRESIDENT BATTLE OVER RUSSIA’S 1997 BUDGET.

Russian parliamentarians threatening to reject the draft federal budget when it comes up for debate on October 11 have been warned by members of the pro-government faction that President Yeltsin could respond by exercising his constitutional prerogative to dissolve the Duma. (Nezavisimaya gazeta, October 5) This would be a desperate move on the government’s part, requiring the calling of fresh general elections, but the government has already warned that it cannot increase social spending beyond the amounts already proposed.

MILITARY REFORM DEBATE REFLECTS KREMLIN POWER STRUGGLE.