He will face a new round of crises next Wednesday when the opposition in the Duma moves a bill to convene a constituent assembly for framing a new constitution to pave the way for setting up of a parliamentary system of government in place of the existing presidential one. The new constitution draft, according to a Novosti report, will be submitted for a national referendum, provided the bill is approved by a two-third majority in the Duma. Presidential circles are confident about its rejection in parliament but that does not take away their anxiety. The opposition's earlier plan to launch impeachment proceedings against the president was a non-starter for lack of sufficient support.

Meanwhile, Yeltsin's one time close aide andformer economic minister Alexander Livshits has come out strongly in support of the Primakov government. He said he pinned great hopes on the cabinet, which had people with managerial experience accumulated during the Soviet rule. Livshits is likely to join the Primakov cabinet soon.