The State Duma, the lower house of Russian parliament, is to consider a vote of no confidence in the government headed by Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov on Wednesday. Russia's Communist Party proposed the vote of no confidence last month, and on January 31 said that it had got the required 90 signatures of Duma deputies for the vote to take place. Making a decision of no confidence in the government requires a simple majority, which makes it impossible without full support of deputies from the pro-Kremlin United Russia party, which currently controls the 450-seat Duma. However, it is unlikely to be passed.The Communist Party's motion to dismiss the government is linked with the government's changes to the social benefits system in Russia.