Vladimir Zhirinovsky, the leader of Russia's Liberal Democratic Party, said Friday he is ready to take Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov's seat.
The controversial Russian lawmaker, who spoke on the sidelines of the Global Policy Forum in the city of Yaroslavl some 250 km northeast of the Russian capital, pledged to permit all protests and give every Muscovite the chance to start their own business.
"I am ready to become the mayor of Moscow, and Moscow will breathe freely. This will be a different city - more reliable, more modern, happier," Zhirinovsky said.
"All protests will be permitted. And each Muscovite will be able to start their own business," he added.
Luzhkov, speaking at the forum, said earlier on Friday he will not leave his post before his term of office ends in 2011.
Luzhkov has been Moscow's mayor since 1992 but frequently has to dismiss rumors he will resign.
Asked whether he will work at his post until the end of his term, Luzhkov said: "I have no grounds to say otherwise."
According to Russian business daily Vedomosti, Luzkhov has the support of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, while the Kremlin would like to see him replaced.
Journalists at the Yaroslavl forum, where President Dmitry Medvedev was the main speaker on Friday, asked Luzhkov about his "conflict" with federal authorities, but Luzhkov dismissed the idea that he was in conflict.
"There are no conflicts, there are different opinions," he said.
YAROSLAVL, September 10 (RIA Novosti)
