August 9, 1999
Web posted at: 5:08 a.m. EDT (0908 GMT)

MOSCOW -- Following is an outline of the rules for changing prime ministers as provided by Russian laws.

The president has full control over the government and may replace it at his discretion. The sacking of a prime minister automatically leads to the resignation of the whole government.

Only a deputy prime minister can be nominated as acting premier, which is why President Boris Yeltsin elevated Vladimir Putin to the post of first deputy prime minister.

The president has two weeks to offer his candidate for a new prime minister to parliament. The Duma then has one week to consider the nomination and vote on it.

A new prime minister has to win a simple majority in the 450-seat Duma, to be confirmed.

The president can present his candidate or candidates for prime minister three times in the Duma. If the Duma refuses to approve his choice, the president must dissolve the chamber and call a fresh parliamentary election. He then appoints his preferred candidate anyway.

Yeltsin signed a decree on Monday setting December 19 as the date for Duma elections but this does not affect the nomination process.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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