Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 14, 1990 TAG: 9003142875
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: The Washington Post
DATELINE: MOSCOW LENGTH: Medium
Tuesday's decisions by the Congress of People's Deputies sealed what are probably the most important changes in the Soviet Union's political and economic system since the 1917 Bolshevik revolution. They also marked a major political victory for Mikhail Gorbachev, who is widely expected to be elected the country's first executive president.
In order to push his proposal for an executive presidency through the congress, Gorbachev was obliged to make some concessions to progressive and nationalist deputies concerned that he could be accumulating too much power. A constitutional provision allowing the president to declare a state of emergency anywhere in the country was watered down.
"We are standing before the greatest, most meaningful step in the history of our government," said Gorbachev. The 59-year-old Soviet leader described the strong executive presidency as "an important and major step on the way to democracy."
The congress ended up approving a package of major constitutional amendments by 1,771 to 164 with 74 abstentions - 270 votes beyond the necessary two-thirds majority - in a roll-call vote. Lithuanian deputies refused to take part in the vote because their Baltic republic no longer considers itself a part of the Soviet Union.
The amendments approved Tuesday include the replacement of the Soviet constitution's Article 6, which guaranteed the Communist Party a monopoly of political power by describing it as the "leading and guiding force" in Soviet society. In its revised form, Article 6 states that the Communists, along with "other political parties" and social organizations, have the right to shape policy.
Other amendments created the constitutional basis for new property relations, overturning the traditional Marxist view that private property is incompatible with socialism. The constitution now states that individuals may own land and factories - the word "private" is studiously avoided - provided that they do not "exploit" other citizens.
The constitution endows the president with sweeping political powers, including the right to nominate the prime minister and dissolve the Supreme Soviet. In an astute piece of parliamentary maneuvering, Gorbachev pushed through all the constitutional amendments in a single vote, in effect linking the creation of a multi-party system to an executive presidency.
by CNB