By Putin's places

Mikhail Kasyanov in St. Petersburg announced his intention to turn the country in a different direction

Many times Mikhail Kasyanov visited St. Petersburg on duty - as an official and head of the Ministry of Finance, as Prime Minister. He did not meet with the opposition, but, within the framework of politeness, pursued the president’s line either at the economic forum, or at meetings on the construction of ports, etc. Yesterday he arrived in the northern capital as an oppositionist and as an opponent of the authorities in the election campaign.

Mr. Kasyanov said right at Pulkovo airport that he had not changed his intentions and would be nominated as a presidential candidate in the 2008 elections. That he continues to actively dislike the current course. And that in the country, despite the political field paved with opposition germination, there are people ready to fight for a democratic choice.

“My plans for 2008 are the most optimistic,” said the former prime minister. - I will run for president. And we will turn the country in the right direction.” In his brief speech, the ex-prime minister did not go into details, but nevertheless described the possibilities of the 2008 election. In his opinion, there are three of them. “The president will suddenly change his mind, agree with his entourage and run for another term. But I think this is unlikely,” said the former prime minister. He is inclined to believe that Mr. Putin will still choose the option of a successor. And the third scenario, which Mr. Kasyanov does not believe in, is that “the authorities realize that the transfer of power is a road to nowhere and the only correct option is free elections by blocs and coalitions.” At the end, the ex-prime minister noted that the continuity of the course is disastrous for the country, it needs to be changed. And he added: “I will fight for this.”

In St. Petersburg, Mr. Kasyanov has planned meetings with representatives of democratic movements, but as for specific party building, he will most likely talk about this in the near future in Moscow. On July 1, a congress of the People's Democratic Union movement, whose leader is the ex-prime minister, will take place. “We will get together and talk. Perhaps a decision will be made to create a democratic party,” Mr. Kasyanov said yesterday.

The need to transform the movement into a party is dictated by the new election law. However, creating a strong opposition party in the current conditions is extremely difficult. Therefore, Mr. Kasyanov makes very careful forecasts regarding the future of his movement: “Parties cannot be artificially compressed into one. Democrats should not go to parliamentary elections as one party. All over the world, parties move through blocs and coalitions.” But this is prohibited here. And Mr. Kasyanov will have to look for a non-trivial solution.

Vera KUZNETSOVA