December 6, 2011 - 09:28 AMT
Russian billionaire predicts collapse of country's political system

United Russia and the whole of power hierarchy will face huge problems if current political situation persists, billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov wrote in his blog.

“This also implies space for new political thinking, new people and new ideas. These should emerge outside the ruling party – through establishment of new parties, movements, independent centers of political and economic expertise,” reads the post.

“Obviously, legitimacy of the authorities is descending and if we linger for a change, the system is going to collapse. This system will not endure for another five years,” Prokhorov said.

He does not rule out emergence of new political movements within the United Russia itself, provided that the ruling party will open space and opportunity for “selection and promotion of new thought lines, emergence of new agencies able to bring a change to the system.”