RUSSIA: Billionaire and Presidential candidate Mikhail Prokhorov renews his campaign, suggesting he would have former Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin or jailed oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky as Prime Minister were he to win

Record ID: 346466

  • Title: RUSSIA: Billionaire and Presidential candidate Mikhail Prokhorov renews his campaign, suggesting he would have former Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin or jailed oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky as Prime Minister were he to win
  • Date: 18th January 2012
  • Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (JANUARY 17, 2012) (REUTERS) RUSSIAN BILLIONAIRE AND PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE MIKHAIL PROKHOROV IN EKHO MOSKVY RADIO STATION STUDIO EKHO MOSKVY LOGO (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN BILLIONAIRE AND PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE MIKHAIL PROKHOROV, SAYING "When a large number of bureaucrats talk about the (presidential elections being on) the 4th of March, this is brainwashing. You need to talk about the presidential elections (as being on) the 4th and 18th of March. I think, and my job is to make sure that the elections are not without alternatives, and I think that it is critically important to explain that in the second round (of voting) the victors will be our citizens. They need to make sure there is correct observation (at the elections) and do it in such a way that these will be the most fair and transparent elections. This is very important for the country." JOURNALIST LISTENING PHOTOGRAPHERS TAKING PICTURES (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN BILLIONAIRE AND PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE MIKHAIL PROKHOROV, SAYING "(JOURNALIST ASKS 'CAN HE (RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER VLADIMIR PUTIN) BE YOUR PRIME MINISTER?) No, he can't. (JOURNALIST ASKS 'CAN YOU BE HIS PRIME MINISTER?) In this situation the variant is that I won't fulfil someone else's programme. On Thursday I'm going to publish my own (programme) and if the winner is the president's programme, if it coincides with my programme by 80-90%, then it's a possibility." CAMERAMEN FILMING (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN BILLIONAIRE AND PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE MIKHAIL PROKHOROV, SAYING: "I have a candidate for the post of Prime Minister - I even have a few of them. One of the best ones could be (former Finance Minister) Alexei Kudrin." MICROPHONE WITH EKHO MOSKVY LOGO (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN BILLIONAIRE AND PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE MIKHAIL PROKHOROV, SAYING: "(JOURNALIST SAYING 'MIKHAIL DMITRIEVICH, WILL A PLACE FOR MIKHAIL KHODORKOVSKY OR LEBEDEV BE FOUND ON YOUR GOVERNMENT TEAM?) Without a doubt (there will be a place for) Khodorkovsky. (JOURNALIST ASKS 'AS WHO?') Khodorkovsky could also be a Prime Minister." VARIOUS CAMERAMEN FILMING INTERVIEW IN PROGRESS
  • Embargoed: 2nd February 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Russian Federation
  • Country: Russia
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAADSAUM69H0G7020F3K5YIXJ2
  • Story Text: Mikhail Prokhorov, a billionaire tycoon seeking to challenge Vladimir Putin for Russia's presidency in March, said in an interview on Tuesday (January 17, 2012) that not only would he free jailed former oil magnate Mikhail Khodorkovsky if elected, but that he would possibly appoint him Prime Minister in a new government.
    The interview, which aired live on Russian independent radio station Ekho Moskvy, came as Prokhorov, among other Russian presidential candidates took up their campaigns after a New Year lull.
    Prokhorov, a billionaire bachelor long seen more as a playboy than a politician, said that he thought Russia's upcoming elections - currently scheduled to take place on March 4, 2012 - should consist of two rounds.
    "When a large number of bureaucrats talk about the (presidential elections being on) the 4th of March, this is brainwashing. You need to talk about the presidential elections (as being on) the 4th and 18th of March. I think, and my job is to make sure that the elections are not without alternatives, and I think that it is critically important to explain that in the second round (of voting) the victors will be our citizens. They need to make sure there is correct observation (at the elections) and do it in such a way that these will be the most fair and transparent elections. This is very important for the country," Prokhorov said.
    Former president and current Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is seeking to return to the Kremlin and rule until at least 2018, but protests against alleged fraud in a Dec. 4 parliamentary vote have exposed growing discontent with the system he has dominated for 12 years.
    46-year-old Prokhorov said that he would not have Putin as his Prime Minister if he were to win the election, but that he might consider accepting a post as Putin's Prime Minister if he lost.
    "No, he (Putin) can't (be my Prime Minister)," Prokhorov said, adding in response to a question about whether or not he'd accept the position or Prime Minister if he lost the election, "In this situation, the alternative is that I won't fulfil someone else's programme. On Thursday I'm going to publish my own (programme) and if the winner's the president's programme and it coincides with my programme by 80-90%, then it's a possibility (that I'll accept the post of Prime Minister)," Prokhorov said.
    Under the plan announced by Russia's ruling tandem in September of last year Putin and his protégé Russian President Dmitry Medvedev are to switch places if Putin wins the election in March.
    Prokhorov, who is ranked by Forbes magazine as Russia's third-richest person, said that he had several people in mind for the post of Prime Minister if he were to win March's election.
    "I have a candidate for the post of Prime Minister - I even have a few of them. One of the best ones could be (former Finance Minister) Alexei Kudrin," Prokhorov said, adding, "Without a doubt (there will be a place for) Khodorkovsky. Khodorkovsky could also be a Prime Minister."
    Prokhorov has previously promised to free jailed former oil magnate Mikhail Khodorkovsky if elected.
    Many analysts and opposition politicians have voiced suspicion that Prokhorov is a Kremlin tool, let into the race to split the opposition and legitimise the vote in which Putin is favourite to win a six-year term.
    Prokhorov has dismissed these allegations, saying he proved he was his own man in September when he quit after a brief stint leading Right Cause, widely seen as a pocket party controlled by the Kremlin to win liberal support.
    Putin is expected to win the upcoming presidential election, despite declining popularity.
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