(24 Apr 1998) Russian/Nat
The Russian parliament has finally confirmed Sergei Kiriyenko as the country's new prime minister in a secret ballot, ending a month of political uncertainty.
The lower house of parliament approved President Yeltsin's candidate as Russia's prime minister by a narrow margin on Friday, despite twice rejecting the young reformer earlier this month.
Sergei Kiriyenko, who arrived in Moscow about a year ago to take his first government job, is now the country's second-most powerful political leader.
In a secret ballot, Kiriyenko received 251 votes - 25 more than the 226 votes needed from Duma deputies.
SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"The results of the secret vote for the Russian president's nomination of Sergei Kiriyenko for the post of prime minister are as follows: For - 251, against 25. That means that Sergei Kiriyenko has got a majority of the votes."
SUPER CAPTION: Igor Bratishchev, Russian Electoral Commission representative
The secret ballot, agreed upon earlier on Friday, appeared to be instrumental in winning the nomination.
315 of the 445 Duma deputies took ballot papers for voting.
The other 130 deputies did not vote.
The Duma approved Kiriyenko despite consistent opposition from the Communist Party - the largest faction within the legislature.
Lawmakers had twice rejected Kiriyenko in votes during the past two weeks.
But there were strong signs that some lawmakers would swallow their pride and vote in favour of Kiriyenko in the third and last ballot to avoid the dissolution of the Duma.
The vote was a victory for President Yeltsin, who had refused to offer any other candidates to lead a new Russian government.
Yeltsin and Kiriyenko will now form a new Cabinet and try to re-energize stalled economic reforms.
Russian President Boris Yeltsin warmly congratulated newly appointed Prime Minister Sergei Kiriyenko on Friday
He presented him with a framed photograph of himself in a white shirt with a red flower pinned to it.
Deputies in Russia's lower house of parliament gave mixed reactions to the vote in favour of Sergei Kiriyenko.
Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov said the country had been violated.
SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
" I see no reason to be happy because the country has been raped again. The vote should have been open so everybody could have made their decisions clear.
SUPER CAPTION: Gennady Zyuganov, Leader of the Communist Party
Newly-elected Prime Minister Kiriyenko called for reconciliation.
SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"It's a time for us to leave political tensions and emotions behind. From today we should build a constructive relationship and work together."
SUPER CAPTION: Sergei Kiriyenko, New Russian Prime Minister
Deputy Nikolai Ryzhkov, leader of the People's Power party and Communist deputy openly said he voted for Kiriyenko - despite the Communist leadership vowing not to.
SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"I always spoke in favour of him. I'm glad. I voted for him"
SUPER CAPTION: Nikolai Ryzhkov, Communist deputy and head of People's Power Party
Ultra nationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky said voting against Kiriyenko would have been pointless given that Yeltsin would have dissolved parliament.
SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"If we could have taken the president and the prime minister with us then that would have made sense. But in reality we would have lost our jobs and they would have kept theirs. That would be completely illogical to give up power to one's opponent. "
SUPER CAPTION: Vladimir Zhirinovsky, Leader of the Liberal Democratic Party
SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
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