ABSTRACT
viktor chernomyrdin was easily confirmed as Prime Minister by the Duma. He was on good terms with the communists and the alternative, from their point of view, Anatoly Chubais, did not bear thinking about. Chernomyrdin represented the major monopolies, oil, gas, electricity and transport. Chubais, head of the presidential administration, competed with the Prime Minister for influence over the economy. Chubais had allies in Vladimir Potanin, first deputy Prime Minister, and head of Oneksimbank, Aleksandr Livshits, deputy Prime Minister, and Evgeny Yasin, minister of economics. Chubais and his allies wanted the gov-ernment to regulate the market but not manage it. If Chernomyrdin spoke for the energy and transport lobby, Chubais and his allies represented the finance lobby. The other major player was Aleksandr Lebed whose self-confidence was growing by the day. This three-way split suited the President as it ensured that no interest group dominated policy making.
