Yeltsin Opposes Easing Transition To New Leader

Boris Yeltsin, ailing with heart troubles and a recent bout with pneumonia, made clear Friday that he opposes changing the Russian constitution so an incapacitated president can be replaced more easily.

Yeltsin’s political foes have been trying to amend the 1993 constitution, designed to protect the presidency, because of the absence of power in the Kremlin since midsummer. Some have proposed creating a clear successor by reinstituting the post of vice president.

“The president cannot agree to such proposals,” spokesman Sergei Yastrzhembsky said on behalf of Yeltsin, who has been recovering from pneumonia at his country home.

The constitution, written after Yeltsin fended off an armed revolt led by then-Vice President Alexander Rutskoi, provided no mechanism for replacing the president. It also did away with the post of vice president.

In addition, it gave the president the lion’s share of power, something many say has left the government virtually paralyzed during Yeltsin’s illnesses.

Despite the criticisms, Yastrzhembsky said the president is happy with the document.

The constitution says the president can be replaced if he suffers a “lasting inability to exercise his powers due to his state of health.” But it doesn’t say how to do it - or who determines he’s incapacitated.