PARLIAMENTARY CONTROVERSY OVER 1996 BUDGET.

The Duma will discuss the government’s draft budget and seems likely to approve it. But 122 members of the Federation Council have issued a statement declaring their dissatisfaction with the draft because it doesn’t provide enough money for projects "which would increase social stability and the living standard", and because it neglects the interests of the Federation’s constituent regions. The upper house rejects the draft budget as "absolutely inadmissible." (3)

The Chernomyrdin government seeks to have the 1996 budget passed by the present parliament, i.e. before the elections. Entering the elections without having given the country a budget would damage the Chernomyrdin bloc’s standing.

Chernomyrdin Says He Won’t Run For President.