Interaction between the Legislative and Executive Branches of Power in Russia in Late 1997 — Early 1998: the Experience of the New Format

The article examines the attempt of the legislative and executive branches of power in Russia to find a new format of interaction in late 1997 — early 1998. In 1997, President Boris Yeltsin and the government he reorganized initiated large-scale socio-economic reforms, but faced confrontation with deputies of the oppositional State Duma. The conflict culminated in the beginning of the no-confidence vote procedure in October 1997, which in the long term could lead to the resignation of the government or the dissolution of the lower chamber of parliament. Facing a possible political crisis, the government, the chambers of the Federal Assembly and the President of Russia were forced to begin negotiations. They resulted in an agreement on a new format of intergovernmental consultations and the mechanisms aimed to ensure its functioning. Two advisory bodies were established: the “Big four” committee, comprising the president, the head of government and the chairmen of the chambers of parliament; and also a broader conference (the socalled “round table”) convened to resolve the most contentious issues. The article demonstrates that the period of their most active functioning was an important milestone in the attempts of the branches of power to work out a compromise and had long-term political consequences. The schemes that were elaborated allowed the political system to overcome a crisis, however, that was not enough to achieve the compromises necessary to implement a consistent reform policy. As a result, in spring 1998 Yeltsin’s policy underwent an abrupt turn. Having abandoned his moderator role, he appointed a new government, effectively pushing it through the State Duma, which actually meant the collapse of all agreements on a new format of interaction. Nevertheless, some of its mechanisms have remained and were subsequently repeatedly used by the branches of power to search for compromises.