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WHY YELTSIN IS STYMIED When President Boris N. Yeltsin of Russia failed to get his congress to approve his economic plan along with his choice for prime minister , Yegor Gaidar, he accused the legislative body of seeking to return the country to the dark days of communism. Then Mr. Yeltsin proposed holding a national referendum next month to determine who is the country’s boss—the president or the congress. But not everyone agrees that congress is against reform; some say it’s just Mr. Yeltsin’s current plans. ‘‘Who gave Yeltsin special powers to conduct his economic reform? Congress,’’ said Vladimir Kvint, a professor of international business at Fordham University. What annoys congress now is that Mr. Yeltsin’s reforms have been badly executed, Mr. Kvint said. ‘‘When Gaidar started the reform process, inflation was 150%. Now it’s 1,850% a year.’’ The New York Times, International Section, December 13, 1992. ...

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