The election of Boris Yeltsin as president of the Russian republic is a stunning personal defeat for Mikhail Gorbachev . Yeltsin is certain to strike a triple blow against Gorbachev 's political line by ( 2 ) challenging the Soviet government's referendum on economic austerity; ( 2 ) opposing the policy of imperial centralism; and ( 3 ) challenging the legitimacy of Gorbachev 's presidency, perhaps to the point of forcing a new Union- wide election. On the political front, Gorbachev will favor a multi-party system and oppose Mikhail Gorbachev 's principle of "democratic centralism." It also shows Mr. Yeltsin's keen political sense. He favors dismantling the Interior Ministry , as well as "depoliticization" of the Army , KGB , and the KGB .
The election of Boris Yeltsin as president of the Russian republic is a stunning personal defeat for Mikhail Gorbachev . Yeltsin is certain to strike a triple blow against Gorbachev 's political line by ( 2 ) challenging the Soviet government's referendum on economic austerity; ( 2 ) opposing the policy of imperial centralism; and ( 3 ) challenging the legitimacy of Gorbachev 's presidency, perhaps to the point of forcing a new Union- wide election. On the political front, Gorbachev will favor a multi-party system and oppose Mikhail Gorbachev 's principle of "democratic centralism." He favors dismantling the Interior Ministry , as well as "depoliticization" of the Army , KGB , and the KGB .