Russian tycoon and former presidential candidate Mikhail Prokhorov has announced his plan for creation of his own political party called "The Civil Platform". According to the billionaire, the party will be consist of only 500 people - a minimum number needed to register a party under new laws passed last year.

      However, Prokhorov himself does not plan to join the new party. According to him, "The Civil Platform" will be performing only organizational functions.

      "The party's members will be the representatives of the regional leaders who emerged in the Right Cause period and during the presidential campaign. These are the people who share the values I was running with when I got the support of 6 million people,” Prokhorov said. The businessman added that professional lawyers would be also delegated to the new party.

      "The party's only goal is to hold a license to allow leaders of the civil movement go for regional elections, as the current political system does not suit us", he added.

      In the first place, "The Civil Platform" will be participating in municipal elections in cities with populations of over 500,000. There are 14 cities with over 1 million population and 23 cities where the population exceeds half a million in Russia. In Prokhorov's opinion, the most active people live exactly there.

      Mikhail Prokhorov also confirmed his intention to personally run for Moscow mayor’s post, if he will have any chances after the primaries.

      At the end of March 2012 Prokhorov opened a voting on his official website for the best name of his party. The title "The Civil Platform" was among the most popular results. It is also said on the website, that about 94,000 people has already expressed their intention to join Prokhorov's party. However, it is still unclear if the "big party" will ever be created. 

Sources: Lenta.ru Gazeta.ru RT Vedomosti Image: dni.ru