Yeltsin: Modified Victory.

The article comments on the outcome of the 1996 elections in Russia. The elections can be considered a landmark. The fact that a presidential election was held, that there was little apparent cheating and that the opposition accepts the result marks the tentative beginning of a new political era in Russia. The elections must also be regarded as an introduction of Russia's reforms. However, there is little certainty about Russia's future. The central reality facing Russia is its continuing economic difficulties. The government of President Boris Yeltsin predicted that 1996 will see real production growth, but instead production has continued to decline. Also, the government's tight-money policies had the effect of aggravating the existing nonpayment crisis as enterprises delayed salaries for months. Later, he ordered the government and state-controlled enterprises to clear all wage and pension arrears, which contributed to his victory in the elections.