#6017
[Second Issue of the Day]
#9
Rossiya
January 11, 2002
YELTSIN SHOULD QUIT PUBLIC POLITICS
Boris Yeltsin ought to stop criticizing his successor in public.
Author: Alexander Tsipko, political scientist
[from WPS Monitoring Agency, www.wps.ru/e_index.html]
FOR SOME REASON, THERE IS A KIND OF CONSPIRACY OF SILENCE SURROUNDING BORIS YELTSIN'S RECENT INTERVIEW. YELTSIN'S INTERVIEW ON NEW YEAR'S EVE IS NOT ONLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT SERVED TO REMIND THE COUNTRY OF THE TRUE CORRELATION OF FORCES BEFORE THE DECISIVE BATTLE FOR POWER. IT ALSO REMINDED RUSSIA FORCIBLY OF THE YELTSIN ERA.
For some reason, there is a kind of conspiracy of silence surrounding Boris Yeltsin's interview with Nikolai Svanidze (Zerkalo TV program) in late December. It is a pity. Analysis of the contents and the form of the interview is very revealing for a proper understanding of the current correlation of forces on the political arena and of what is in the wind. It is clear that Yeltsin or rather what is known as the Family have retained control over state-owned TV channels and first and foremost over the All-Russian State TV and Radio Broadcasting Company, thus retaining the right for uncontrolled political initiative. It is hardly unlikely that Putin was happy to be reminded that he was not chosen by the people or nominated by any political party, that he was selected by Yeltsin and his inner circle of decision-makers. By Yeltsin's advisor in other words, and not by society... It goes without saying that Yeltsin spoke of his rejection of the president's latest personnel decisions. It stands to reason to assume that Sergei Mironov's promotion to Federation Council chairman was meant.
Yeltsin's interview on New Year's Eve is not only important because it served to remind the country of the true correlation of forces before the decisive battle for power. It is much more important because it reminded the country of the blind alley inevitable in the wake of replacement of the powers-that-be - "Yeltsin's way", by the laws of Russian democracy in other words. Russia will pay a lot for the idea of Boris Berezovsky and Gleb Pavlovsky. in order to retain control over the successor, Yeltsin and the Family are forced every now and then to remind to the country wh is the true boss around here and how and on what conditions the new president moved into the Kremlin. Leader of the country cannot hope to become a national leader in a situation like that. His hands are tied in everything be it ideology, economy, or even personnel matters. Under the circumstances, the president's freedom is restricted to the right and ability to visit holy places in Russia.
The problem is, this mechanism of constant restriction undermines the new president's personal legitimacy and prestige of the whole political regime. It is unfortunately beyond Yeltsin's understanding that reminding Putin how the latter came to where he is now, Yeltsin undermines remnants of his own legitimacy. Yeltsin does not understand that humiliating Putin in this manner, he actually brings chaos into the political life of the country with all that it implies.
It is time we said firmly that Yeltsin's return to public politics will harm Putin and the nation as a whole. It is time Yeltsin backed off. His pranks cost Russia too much. Once, Yeltsin's eagerness to show Gorbachev who was the real master destroyed a nation. These days, Yeltsin's eagerness to show that he is not finished yet openly undermines the foundations of political stability in Russia. This is a dangerous game.
I'm personally glad that Yeltsin is healthy, looking good and energetic. I personally think, however, that he should quit public politics. It will be better for Russia and for Yeltsin if Putin becomes an independent and fully-fledged player on the Russian political stage.
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