Latin America nominates 2 candidates for IPU president, Russia ready to support Mexican nominee - Matviyenko
MOSCOW. July 7 (Interfax) - Russia has called on the Latin American geopolitical group in the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) to nominate a single candidate for IPU president and has expressed the readiness to support Mexican Senator Gabriela Cuevas Barron, Federation Council Chairperson Valentina Matviyenko said.
"I'd like to tell you right away that the Russian parliament likes you very much and we are ready to support you but, to be frank, we would not want two candidates of the same Latin American group to compete against one another. This is possible, this is normal and democratic, but this may also weaken the efforts of both candidates," Matviyenko said at a meeting with Barron, Chair of the Mexican Senate's Foreign Affairs Committee, in Moscow.
St. Petersburg will play host to the 137th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in October, and the new IPU president will be elected, Matviyenko said.
Due to the mandatory rotation of IPU presidents representing six geopolitical groups, "it is highly probable that the next IPU president will be elected from the geopolitical group of Latin America," Matviyenko said. Two candidates have been named so far, namely Barron and a senator from Uruguay.
The IPU charter allows for nominating candidates up till the voting day, Matviyenko said.
"We have been receiving messages from our colleagues in a number of parliaments indicating that the Latin American geopolitical group should better nominate a single candidate, as that would bolster the group's position," she said.
It is important that the IPU have a female president, Matviyenko said.
"Throughout the history of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, which is rather long, the IPU has had a female president just once. I think this is wrong. Considering your political and parliamentary background, you obviously have a chance. Your charisma and your charm are also very important factors in the vote for a candidate," Matviyenko said.
She said in addition that Russia was interested in stepping up cooperation with Mexico on the IPU platform.