RUSSIA | 25.06.2011
Russian pro-reform party elects business tycoon as leader
An upstart liberal pro-reform party in Russia has elected a business oligarch as its new leader, the first time an industry tycoon has thrown his hat into the political ring since the infamous arrest of oilman Mikhail Khodorkovsky in 2003.
Mikhail Prokhorov is now set to lead the Just Cause party (Pravoe Delo). Prokhorov wants to overtake the Communists as the number two political party after Vladimir Putin's dominant United Russia party.
United Russia currently holds 315 of the 450 seats in the lower house of parliament, the Duma. Just Cause currently holds no seats in the Duma.
"Our country is called the Russian Federation, but by structure it is an empire," Prokhorov said. "Only presidential power works here, and this kind of governance cannot provide stability let alone development."
Prokhorov heads the holding group Onexim, which has interests in industries that range from mining to the media.
Prokhorov heads the holding group Onexim, which has interests in industries that range from mining to the media.
He amassed a fortune after selling a one-quarter stake in the mining company Norilsk Nickel just before the financial crisis hit in 2008. The business magazine Forbes estimates Prokhorov's wealth at $18 billion (12.6 billion euros).
Dirty word
The Kremlin approved the formation of the Just Cause partyProkhorov is reputed to have good relations with the Kremlin, which approved the formation of the Just Cause party. He has avoided the use of the term "opposition" as unhelpful."Our citizens associate the word opposition with marginal groups that have long lost touch with reality, not with political parties," Prokhorov said.
The platform of Just Cause shares many similarities with President Dmitry Medvedev's campaign for economic modernization.
Several members of the Russian political establishment have shown signs of support for Just Cause, including Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin and Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov.
Khodorkovsky trial
Prokhorov has expressed regret over Khodorkovsky's trial and conviction for financial crimes. Khodorkovsky was jailed and stripped of his fortune after financing opposition to then-president Vladimir Putin, leading to accusations that the trial was politically motivated.
"As a person, I express deep sorrow that such trials happen in this country," Prokhorov told radio Ekho Moskvy.
Russia is set to hold presidential elections in 2012. Prime Minister Putin is expected to run as a candidate.
Author: Spencer Kimball (AFP, Reuters)
Editor: Andreas Illmer
Editor: Andreas Illmer
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