Yeltsin Loses Twice

FIGUREHEAD OR DICTATOR? RUSSIAN PRESIDENT Boris Yeltsin seemed to be facing just that stark a choice: he could either bow to a resolution passed by the Congress of People's Deputies stripping him of much of his power, or dissolve the parliament and try to institute a presidential regime propped up by the military. Before resorting to that "final option," though, Yeltsin played another card: he sought to put the question of who should wield the ultimate power in Russia to a nationwide vote. But the Congress, staying in session two extra days, rejected Yeltsin's plebiscite plan and put the President on notice that any attempt to hold a referendum on his own would be unconstitutional. The 1,033 deputies, who are mostly apparatchiks elected under the old communist regime, clearly believe they now have the upper hand over Yeltsin. But the battle is not yet over. The history of jockeying between Yeltsin and Congress has been one of endless postponement of a final showdown. When he meets Bill Clinton in Canada on April 3, Yeltsin may well not know how much power he will wield the following month -- or week. (See related story beginning on page 30.)