Russian politics in turmoil as Yeltsin sacks PM

Within hours of being appointed Russia's acting prime minister, Mr Vladimir Putin, has announced that he will run for the country's presidency.

Mr Putin (47), who has had a varied career including a period as a Soviet spy in Germany, has been backed by the outgoing president Mr Boris Yeltsin. He is regarded as a shrewd, behind-the-scenes political operator, but is a bad public speaker and virtually unknown to the electorate.

Mr Yeltsin threw Russian politics into turmoil yesterday by sacking the Prime Minister, Mr Sergei Stepashin, and his cabinet, confirming December 19th as the date for parliamentary elections, and nominating Mr Putin as the man he wants to succeed him. The moves came after the formation of a strong non-communist opposition movement by Moscow's mayor Mr Yuri Luzhkov and a group of regional leaders. Russia's most popular politician, former prime minister Mr Yevgeny Primakov, also a former KGB operative, is understood to be preparing to join the new movement, a move which would make it electorally almost unbeatable.

Mr Yeltsin, who is obliged to step down as president next summer according to Russia's constitution, is understood to be keen to keep power within a group of supporters known as "The Family".

Russia's next presidential election is, therefore, likely to be fought for the first time between three strong groups. Previously straight fights between Mr Yeltsin's allies on one side and communists on the other, dominated the polls. Now for the first time the Yeltsin camp will face an extremely strong non-communist bloc which is capable of denying it power for the first time since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.

The parliamentary elections in December are likely to produce a state Duma even more opposed to the Yeltsin administration than the current lower house.

Mr Luzhkov's new group could put itself into a strong position by taking votes not only from Mr Yeltsin's supporters, but also from the communists, particularly should Mr Primakov finally decide to join the grouping.

Although Mr Stepashin has been regarded as a caretaker prime minister since his appointment last May, his demise comes at a time of political, military and economic crisis for Russia. The rouble, devalued five-fold in last year's economic collapse, lost 3 per cent yesterday, trading at more than 25 to the dollar.

Politically the campaign period for the parliament and the presidency has begun, and militarily Russian forces are under fire from Islamic militants in the southern region of Dagestan.

Mr Putin's candidacy must now be ratified by the Duma. Should it be rejected three times, Mr Yeltsin would be obliged to dissolve parliament, but with elections due in just three months, Duma deputies are likely go along with his choice for the time being at least.

Reaction from Russian politicians were predictable yesterday particularly as Mr Stepashin's demise had been signalled in advance. The Communist leader, Mr Gennady Zyuganov, described the sacking as "a blow to the whole country".

Gen Alexander Lebed, Mr Yeltsin's tough-talking former security chief, was scathing in his comments. "A president who dismisses four prime ministers in one year cannot look good. We know from experience that when all the underlings are no good, neither is their boss," he said.

Guardian service adds:

Moscow had been awash with rumours that Mr Yeltsin might try to provoke a state of emergency and cancel the elections. When his chief-of-staff last week said Lenin's body would soon be removed from the mausoleum on Red Square, some analysts saw it as a device to get angry crowds on to the streets.

His latest actions are likely to be seen as confirmation that he has finally accepted that he cannot defy the constitution to stand a third time when his presidential term runs out in August next year.