While The Cat's Away

WHILE HIS SUPPORTERS HAVE PRONOUNCED HIM stronger than ever after his narrow escape from impeachment, Boris Yeltsin left plenty of uncertainties in the hands of his political enemies in the Congress of People's Deputies when he flew to Vancouver. The legislators did vote to approve Yeltsin's call for a referendum, but they then ruled that at least 50% of the entire 106 million electorate must support him -- not just half of all those who vote. Few believe Yeltsin can meet this target. Twisting the knife, the Congress tacked on an embarrassing question about Yeltsin's economic performance and two additional questions about early elections for the presidency and the Congress.

Yeltsin at first said he would challenge the 50% rule but later decided against conducting a parallel referendum with more favorable questions. Meanwhile, Vyacheslav Kostikov, spokesman for Yeltsin, warned that Congress might try yet again to impeach Yeltsin before the referendum.