Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, who has embarked on a political career, made a surprise call today for Russia to adopt the euro, saying the bold move would “rescue” Europe.
Prokhorov, speaking at his first press conference since becoming the leader of the Right Cause party, said “Russia should make a bold and strategic step closer to Europe: join the Schengen zone and the eurozone.”
Prokhorov said that creating a “greater Europe from Lisbon to Vladivostok” will help Russia become a leading economy as well as “rescue European countries from bankruptcy.”
Prokhorov heads the Onexim Group conglomerate and is one of the 50 richest people in the world, valued at $18 billion by “Forbes” magazine.
His Right Cause party is seen as a Kremlin creation designed to lure opposition-minded, pro-business voters ahead of December’s parliamentary elections.
compiled from agency reports