He survived the NBA lockout, but now New Jersey Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov wants to take on Vladimir Putin, said Miriam Elder in the London Guardian. Prokhorov, Russia’s third-richest man, with a fortune estimated at $18 billion, announced this week that he was running for the Russian presidency in March. The 46-year-old metals magnate, who previously had close ties to the Kremlin, “has tried his hand at politics before.” He took over a pro-business party this summer before leaving after a few months, calling it the “Kremlin’s puppet project.”
The sight of the “young, slick” Prokhorov, who at 6’8” towers over other politicians, makes it “hard not to feel a pang of sympathy for Russia’s ruling strongman,” said Simon Shuster in Time​.com. But upon closer inspection, Prokhorov may be “the best opponent Putin could possibly ask for.” He’ll quiet protesters, and maybe even garner some votes, but he’s “fundamentally unelectable.” Prokhorov, who has a reputation as a playboy, is often associated with the hated oligarchs, and there is “a ready dossier of alleged scandals” to discredit him. And since Russia’s political system resembles an “elaborate puppet show,” people are already accusing him of being a Kremlin stooge. Prokhorov swears he’s legitimate, saying he’s made “probably the most serious decision of my life.”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
How might Trump's second term affect the free press?Today's Big Question The president-elect has previously pledged to go after his supposed 'enemies' in the media
-
Amanemu: an ultra-luxury onsen retreat in Japan's Ise-Shima National ParkThe Week Recommends Soak in blissful private solitude among pine-cloaked hills and steamy hot springs
-
Today's political cartoons - December 23, 2024Cartoons Monday's cartoons - immigrant jobs, crypto scams, and more
-
Issue of the week: Yahoo’s ban on working from homefeature There’s a “painful irony” in Yahoo’s decision to make all its employees come to the office to work.
-
Issue of the week: Another big airline merger
feature The merger of American Airlines and US Airways will be the fourth between major U.S. airlines in five years.
-
Issue of the week: Feds’ fraud suit against S&P
feature The Justice Department charged S&P with defrauding investors by issuing mortgage security ratings it knew to be misleading.
-
Issue of the week: Why investors are worried about Apple
feature Some investors worry that the company lacks the “passion and innovation that made it so extraordinary for so long.”
-
Issue of the week: Does Google play fair?
feature The Federal Trade Commission cleared Google of accusations that it skews search results to its favor.
-
Issue of the week: The Fed targets unemployment
feature By making public its desire to lower unemployment, the Fed hopes to inspire investors “to behave in ways that help bring that about.”
-
Issue of the week: Is Apple coming home?
feature Apple's CEO said the company would spend $100 million next year to produce a Mac model in the U.S.
-
Issue of the week: Gunning for a hedge fund mogul
feature The feds are finally closing in on legendary hedge fund boss Steven Cohen.