(born 1931). The first popularly elected leader of Russia, Boris Yeltsin became president in 1991. A temperamental leader, Yeltsin proved his staying power by staging remarkable comebacks every time he seemed to be on the brink of his career's end.

Early life

Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin was born in Sverdlovsk, now called Yekaterinburg, in Russia, on February 1, 1931. He attended the Urals Polytechnic Institute and worked as a construction engineer on various projects from 1955 to 1968 in his home province.

Political debut

Yeltsin joined the Communist Party in 1961. In 1976 he became the first secretary of the Sverdlovsk oblast, or province, party committee. Mikhail Gorbachev was his counterpart in the city of Stavropol, and the two developed a long-lasting association.

When Gorbachev became the general secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in 1985, Yeltsin rose to the post of party leader in Moscow. Yeltsin became known as an able and enthusiastic advocate of reforms. The success did not last long. Yeltsin's rough personality and his criticism of party members, the slow pace of reforms, and Gorbachev himself, put him in disgrace. Finally, he was forced to resign from the Moscow party leadership in 1987.

In the limelight

Yeltsin was demoted to deputy minister for construction. However, his popularity with Soviet voters as an advocate of democracy and economic reform helped revive his political career. He staged a remarkable comeback. When Gorbachev allowed elections to a new Soviet legislature in 1989 Yeltsin easily won a seat. The following year he resigned from the Communist Party and was chosen by the parliament of the Russian republic to be president of the republic.

In that role, Yeltsin supported the right of Soviet republics to gain greater freedom within the Soviet Union. He also proclaimed his support of a multiparty political system. In June 1991 Yeltsin won the first direct, popular elections for the presidency of the Russian republic.

In August 1991 a group of die-hard Communists attempted to overthrow the Soviet president Gorbachev and to crush the reform movement. Despite their previous differences, it was Yeltsin who rallied round the ousted leader. He gathered military support and inspired a popular uprising against the takeover plot. The coup collapsed a few days later, and Gorbachev was returned to his office. However, he never regained the real power that had by now clearly passed to Yeltsin.

A new republic

The failed coup also marked the beginning of the disintegration of the Soviet empire. One by one, the republics that made up the Soviet Union started declaring their independence. In December 1991 Yeltsin, along with the newly elected presidents of Ukraine and Belarus, declared that the Soviet Union had ceased to exist. Instead, there was to be a new Commonwealth of Independent States. Gorbachev resigned as Soviet president on December 25.

Yeltsin assumed leadership of the independent Russia. His government took on many of the former Soviet Union's responsibilities for defense, foreign affairs, and finance. Yeltsin emerged as Russia's most powerful political figure.

Balance of power

Differences between Yeltsin and hard-liners in parliament, who were inflexible on what actions should be taken, prevented meaningful reforms. The president wanted to limit government involvement in the economy and give more freedom to private enterprise. Yeltsin and the Congress also disagreed over the question of the balance of powers in Russia's proposed new constitution.

On September 21, 1993, Yeltsin dissolved the Congress and called for new parliamentary elections. Hard-line lawmakers attempted a coup in early October but were stopped by army troops loyal to Yeltsin.

Second term

The failure of his reforms to stimulate economic growth, an unsuccessful war with the Russian republic of Chechnya in 1994, and health problems dimmed Yeltsin's prospects for reelection to the presidency. However, he surprised many by winning the presidential election in July 1996.

Yeltsin spent the months after his electoral victory recovering from a heart attack. The state of his health proved to be a nagging issue. In addition to that, the economy was unstable. Yeltsin struggled to hold on to power.

In the late 1990s, political uncertainty continued to hold back the country's growth as Yeltsin dismissed several prime ministers. He also fired his entire cabinet but later reappointed many of them.

In 1999 the Russian parliament started an impeachment move against Yeltsin. The charges included his role in encouraging the breakup of the Soviet Union and his conduct regarding the disastrous war in Chechnya. The parliament was unable to secure the necessary votes to proceed.

Retirement

Yeltsin abruptly announced his resignation on December 31, 1999, in favor of new, energetic leaders. He named Prime Minister Vladimir Putin acting president. In turn Putin assured Yeltsin of safety from future prosecution.