MOSCOW, June 13 (RIA Novosti) – Acting Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin has praised his job as an interesting one and said he would not like to head the Russian government because the prime minister’s work is very hard.
In an interview with the Izvestiya daily, when asked if he would like to become premier, Sobyanin said: “I have worked for many years in the presidential administration, in the government, and I know what kind of work that is.”
“I would not like to go [to work] in the government. The government is a big flywheel where many decisions and regulatory acts are adopted,” Sobyanin, who had earlier occupied the posts of the head of the presidential administration and a deputy prime minister, said.
“In most cases, you do not see the edge where problems end, do not see the result of your work,” Sobyanin said. “This is a very hard and thankless job.”
Sobyanin said the mayor’s post was interesting for him as he can solve specific tasks.
Sobyanin announced last week that he would resign as mayor but days later said he would run for re-election in a snap election, which is now scheduled for September 8. Critics said he would have an unfair advantage in the race since other candidates would have very little time to campaign.
The acting mayor said he would collect Muscovites’ signatures to nominate his candidacy, adding that this way was difficult but honest.
Between 2004 and 2012, the governors of Russia’s regions, as well as the mayors of Moscow and St. Petersburg, were appointed by the president. Direct elections were reintroduced last year in the wake of widespread protests triggered by allegations of fraud in the parliamentary polls.