The Political Council of the Union of Right-Wing Forces (SPS) and Yabloko decided to determine its position on the vote of no-confidence in Mikhail Kasyanov’s Cabinet in a week.

Co-chairpersons of the Council Irina Khakamada (the SPS faction) and Vladmir Lukin (the Yabloko faction) told journalists on Monday that a decision on voting in the Duma, if this issue is raised, would be taken within a week.

They also stressed that the position of the SPS and Yabloko on assessing the performance of the Cabinet is diametrically opposite to that of the communists. The CPRF has advocated a no-confidence motion on the Cabinet.

Khakamada stressed that both the SPS and Yabloko factions negatively assess the performance of the Cabinet. According to Khakamada, the government implements liberal reforms “only under serious pressure, above all political pressure.”

She also noted that the SPS and Yabloko factions had put forward general demands to the government, and the factions hope to receive a definite answer from the Cabinet within a month. Khakamada said that the factions demanded first of all the introduction of the necessary amendments to the Criminal Code and the law “On the Public Prosecutor’s Office”, as well as changes to investment laws, etc.

Lukin in turn noted that the trouble with the government is that its actions are “extremely weak", leading to the creation of a “vacuum” or “range of errors” around the government, which was most notable in the actions of the Cabinet related to debt payments to the Paris Club of creditors.

Lukin also noted that “we cannot be accused of lacking patience”, while awaiting definite actions from the Cabinet. “We would like to issue a serious warning to the government that democratic, liberal and reformist forces in Russia are dissatisfied with its actions.” This declaration was made by members of the Political Council of the SPS and Yabloko.

Based on Interfax reports.

See also:

Declaration on attitude to the Government of Mikhail Kasyanov

The Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, The State Duma of the Russian Federation, The Yabloko faction, February 20, 2001