The Russian Duma yesterday moved to endorse a Communist attempt to bring down the government by tabling a no-confidence vote - the first since Mr Vladimir Putin became President a year ago - for March 14th.
The Communist Party resolution also won the unexpected support of the Unity Party, the largest pro-Putin faction in the State Duma, or lower house, which appears to be heading towards early elections. But Unity said a final decision to support the censure motion would be made next week.
A no-confidence vote against the government could test Mr Putin's resolve to stand by the much-criticised Prime Minister, Mr Mikhail Kasyanov. The Duma vote would give Mr Putin the excuse to replace his Prime Minister - a long-standing protege of the former president, Mr Boris Yeltsin - with a more trusted ally.
The extreme nationalist Mr Vladimir Zhirinovsky announced his support for the call to dismiss Mr Kasyanov. "We would have voted against the government no matter what," Mr Zhirinovsky said.
The Communists last week accused Mr Kasyanov of making grave economic mistakes, notably failing to strike a deal with Western governments to reschedule Soviet-era debts that are now burdening the Russian budget. But to the Communists' surprise - and apparent displeasure - the pro-Putin Unity group supported the move.
This could help to ease the motion through the chamber and, should the Communists press on with their campaign, allow Mr Putin to call early parliamentary elections. With Mr Putin's support running high, the Communists would then be likely to lose their already-tenuous grip on the Duma.
"They are too optimistic," Mr Zyuganov said when asked about Unity's decision to back the censure motion.
Bernard Besserglik reports from Moscow:
President Putin went online for an hour yesterday, but most of the webcast questions had been chosen in advance from a list sent in by surfers.
The virtues of democracy and the law-based state were among the issues raised by Mr Putin as he replied to questions, the BBC stated. --(AFP)