The Russian Democratic Party YABLOKO plans so submit a no-confidence motion in the RF goverment and will try to achieve its dismissal. Such a decision was adopted at the meeting of the Bureau of the Federal Council of the YABLOKO party held on April 25-26, 2003. The Bureau of the Federal Council of the YABLOKO party commissioned the YABLOKO faction of the State Duma to initiate the vote of non-confidence in the Cabinet in the lower chamber of the Russian parliament.

"The Government does not fulfill its obligations and demonstrates its complete inability, implements a unanimously adopted party statement. It is not only unable to provide a clear long-term strategy and enforce national interests, but has instead been acting against these interests."

YABLOKO's statement also stresses that the "subordination of the government to the oligarchic clans led to a tough inter-clans struggle which completely paralysed the performance of the executive authority." The adopted document also lists and describes in detail the seven distinctive features of the "growing crisis inside the Cabinet."

- Inability to provide security for the country and its citizens, and curb crime.

- Failure of the most important economic reforms, without which it is impossible to achieve a qualitative increase in economic growth rates.

- Anti-social policies of the Cabinet.

- Protection of the interests of the largest monopolies and oligarchic structures.

- Virtual abolition of military reform.

- Adoption of dangerous risky decision-making motivated by one-off commercial interests and representing a threat for further generations.

- Inability to conduct administrative reforms.

YABLOKO also thinks that "a critical mass of gross errors and sheer inaction

has been already reached: instead of progress in reforms this will lead to stagnation and instability." " A timely replacement of the government will make it possible to avert a crisis," runs the document.

The YABLO(KO party expressed its readiness to assume responsibility for resolution of Russia's urgent problems and " actively take part both in the development of the programme of the new Cabinet and its practical implementation."

"Our patience has run out”. This is how Chairman of the YABLOKO party Grigory Yavlinsky explained at a press conference following the meeting of the Bureau why it passed a decision to move for vote of non-confidence in the government at this very moment. "The cabinet infighting deprives us of an opportunity to constructively work with them, despite our intentions," added Yavlinsky. Yavlinsky also noted that YABLOKO's initiative is connected to the ongoing preparation of the Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly: "The concept of the country's

development which will or will not be proposed to the public will become the basis for developments in the country during the Duma and the presidential elections, i.e. will determine the main directions of the country's long-term development."

YABLOKO's leader also assessed the chances of Duma's examination of the vote of no-confidence as "quite realistic." "Many factions in the State Duma are dissatisfied with government's performance, even the Unity and Fatherland-All Russia have been expressing their dissatisfaction," stressed Yavlinsky.

Another participant at the press conference, First Deputy Head of the party Vladimir Lukin, asked by journalists whether YABLOKO was concerned that the initiative of the party might destabilise the country on the threshold of the elections, responded that this was the reason why "we would like to be headed by a fresh and energetic government with a clear goal and programme, which would no be torn apart by different clans." "This is our contribution to the stability in society," stressed Lukin.

Another statement adopted by the members of the Bureau of the Federal Council of the YABLOKO party "On Radioactive Safety in Russia" describes the present situation in the Russian nuclear power sector. Stating the problems of the sector – wear and tear of fixed assets, insufficient protection for nuclear power facilities, the threat of "nuclear terrorism", dangers posed by the accumulation of nuclear waste, low wages of the workers of the nuclear power sector, evacuation of residents from contaminated territories, etc. - YABLOKO's political leadership proposes a number of measures to improve the situation. In particular the Bureau of the Federal Council of the Russian Democratic Party YABLOKO considers it necessary to change the tariff structure on electricity generated by nuclear power stations, eliminate temporarily from this tariff expenditures on the construction of new nuclear power stations, allocate freed-up resources to resolve the problems of safety of nuclear power facilities and social rehabilitation of the victims of nuclear disasters. The statements also list the measures that should be implemented to preserve a highly developed nuclear power complex in Russia and minimise the danger of new disasters like Chernobyl.

Members of the Bureau of the Federal Council of the Russian Democratic Party YABLOKO also discussed YABLOKO's preparations for the forthcoming parliamentary election campaign and submitted the plans of the so-called "mass media" (carried out via mass media) and "field" (carried out locally) election campaign. YABLOKO will also focus its attention on party representation in electoral commissions at all levels.

The decision of the Bureau of the Federal Council of the Russian Democratic Party YABLOKO also established a regional branch of the party in the Ingushetia Republic on the basis of the local and primary branches of the party functioning there.

The Bureau of the Federal Council of the Russian Democratic Party YABLOKO may accept YABLOKO supporters who cannot apply to the local or regional organisation of the party (which is usually to the lack of YABLOKO's branch in their federation subject) into the party. The present meeting of the Bureau of the Federal Council has accorded party membership to 554 people. Consequently YABLOKO now has 47,000 members.

See also:

Activities

YABLOKO for Nuclear Safety

State Duma elections 2003