Boris bounces back - Russian President Boris Yeltsin survives a challenge to his economic and social reforms - Editorial

National Review, May 24, 1993

MAY DAY, the traditional celebration of socialism, was this year an opportunity for the Russian people to contemplate at their leisure the draft of a new constitution restoring the right of private property. It was a delicious irony.

The campaign for the referendum illustrated in its own way the cultural milestone Russia is now passing. Yeltsin built up a war chest to finance lively U.S.-style commercials. One featured a simple jingle to the words, "Da, da, nyet, da," signifying the answers Yeltsin wanted to the complicated four-part questionnaire on the ballot (Do you approve the president? Do you approve his economic program? Do you approve a new presidential election? Do you approve new parliamentary elections?). The same four-note jingle was played and replayed on the state-run media. The opposition commercials were lengthy speeches by the traditional talking heads. Guess which had more impact.

While the results of the referendum on the questions about new elections were ambiguous for technical reasons, Yeltsin's unexpectedly large majorities on the first two questions gave him a resounding moral and political victory. He has now seized the moment again with his draft of a new constitution. It is roughly modeled on the French system, with a strong president who appoints a prime minister and cabinet. It would set up an independent judiciary and central bank and a U.S.-style bicameral legislature, and would enshrine the fundamental right to own private property and to buy and sell land. The provisions on the central bank and property ownership are obviously sine-qua-nons for any serious economic reform and recovery.

Yeltsin's rebound is paying off in other areas, too, as in the surprising degree of Russian support in the UN for stronger measures against Serbia.

Finance ministers of the G-7 group of industrial democracies met in Washington last week and promised financial support for Russia provided that it moves ahead quickly with market reforms. The proviso is vital. But, so far, Yeltsin's courage and political skill have made him a better bet.