Matviyenko skeptical of Sobchak's plans to run for president 'against all'
MOSCOW. Oct 25 (Interfax) - Federation Council speaker Valentina Matviyenko is skeptical of Ksenia Sobchak's plans to position herself as a candidate "against all" during the Russian presidential election.
"If someone comes out with their own program and really fights for the presidential chair, they cannot be a candidate against all. Otherwise, one should simply turn into a ballot box, say nothing, and not come out with their own program. A ballot box that will gather against-all ballots. That is not how it happens at elections," Matviyenko told journalists on Wednesday.
In her view, if someone runs and is seriously set to fight for the presidency, their main task is to come out with a program.
"As far as I know, Ksenia Sobchak is going to prepare such a program and is recruiting a team for that. I think that Ksenia Anatolyevna will rethink her approach and still participate as a genuine candidate and really fight to win voters' support," Matviyenko said.
In the case of the "against all" option, "people don't really want to approve any of the candidates and do not support their programs," she said.
The Federation Council has not yet even set a date for the presidential election, "and we already have candidates popping up," Matviyenko said.
"So I assume that the presidential election campaign will be competitive, and I think there will still be a whole host of candidates who want to try to win the presidential election," she said.