The Clinton administration all but abandoned hopes Tuesday that reformers would win a majority in Russia's parliament and voiced worries that a communist-nationalist alliance could slow President Boris Yeltsin's pro-West policies.
The retreat from early public optimism about the Russian elections came as Vice President Al Gore arrived in Moscow to help prepare for next month's summit here between Yeltsin and President Clinton.After being updated on election returns that showed pro-Yeltsin reformers running a distant second to extreme nationalists and just barely ahead of the communists, Gore backpedaled from his prediction Monday that Yeltsin would win a narrow but working parliament majority.
"Of course, the big question is whether (Yeltsin) will have a working majority or not," Gore told reporters aboard Air Force Two. Once in Moscow, Gore received another briefing on the results and refused to talk about the parliament elections altogether.
Instead, he applauded passage of a new Russian constitution giving Yeltsin broader powers and said the parliament results were too incomplete to discuss.
"I'll refrain from expressing any reaction on behalf of my country or any personal reaction," Gore said before visiting Russia's space control center to talk with cosmonauts aboard the Russian space station.
But it was clear from interviews with senior Russia experts traveling with Gore that the administration was reassessing not only its line on the election results but also what effect the strong showing of anti-Yeltsin forces would have on U.S.-Russia relations.
With more than two-thirds of the election districts reporting, the ultranationalist Liberal Democratic Party was leading with 24.5 percent of the vote. The party appeared to have an unbeatable lead, government officials said.
The pro-Yeltsin group, Russia's Choice, was second with 14 percent. The Communist Party had just over 11 percent, the anti-Yeltsin Agrarian Party had 9 percent and the Women of Russia bloc followed with 8 percent.
Three other parties appeared likely to get at least 5 percent, the required minimum to get seats in the Duma or parliament. There were no firm indications on how many seats each would have. Half of the parliament's 450 seats are elected directly; the rest are allotted proportionately to parties according to their share of the votes.
Liberal Democratic Party leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky on Tuesday demanded major changes in Yeltsin's economic reform program and said he would seek the resignation of key reformers in the government.
Zhirinovsky said he hopes that when parliament convenes he will be able to "declare these dark times are over in Russia, that all these reforms that greatly hurt our people are over."
He also said his party expected to play a big role in the naming of a new government and was ready to form an alliance with any of the parties. It seemed unlikely, however, that Zhirinovsky would become prime minister or get a significant government post because Yeltsin nominates Cabinet members.
In Washington, Clinton sought to play down the significance of the support for Yeltsin foes, saying, `I think when people are having a tough time . . . they often look to simple answers. That's not unique to Russia. You can see that in many other democracies. "
At a minimum, Gore said Yeltsin was going to have to learn the art of legislative compromise if he is to push through a reform coali-tion.
Zhirinovsky favors halting defense conversion projects and amnesty for the leaders of the 1991 coup and the October anti-Yeltsin uprising. He also has said he considers some former Soviet republics that are now independent nations to be Russian territory.
Ukraine and the Baltic states, recently independent after the demise of the Soviet Union, were following the parliamentary race with concern. The republics see Russian nationalism as a major threat.
Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov criticized reformers and the ultranationalists but said he might consider an alliance with moderate groups.
At a news conference Tuesday, Zyuganov said he would seek a vote of confidence in the government if it did not change its economic course, which has led to inflation and a drop in living standards for many Russians.
"The continuation of this course is harmful. But I have a gut feeling the course will be adjusted," said Zyuganov.