As was widely predicted, the no-confidence vote held by
the Duma on 18 June failed to gather enough votes to dissolve the government
of Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov, Russian media reported. The vote was
172 in favor, with 163 opposed and six abstentions, polit.ru reported.
The motion needed 226 votes to pass. The motion was put forward and supported
by the Communist and Yabloko factions. The Union of Rightist Forces faction
did not participate in the vote, while the pro-presidential factions Unity
and Fatherland-All Russia voted almost solidly in favor of the government,
according to ITAR-TASS. The People's Deputy group was split, with nine
voting for the government, four deputies abstaining, and 40 not voting.
Fourteen members of the centrist Russian Regions group voted for the government
to resign.
See also:
No-Confidence
Vote
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Radio Liberty/Radio Free Europe, June 19, 2003
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