Putin launches shake-up ‘in bid to prolong rule’
Government and prime minister resign
RUSSIA’S GOVERNMENT resigned yesterday, hours after President Vladimir Putin proposed constitutional changes that could prolong his stay in power.
The proposals would transfer power from the presidency to parliament and could allow him to seek a new role or hold on to power behind the scenes, said Kremlin observers.
Mr Putin is due to step down in 2024 when his fourth term of office comes to an end.
In a surprise reshuffle, the Russian president also named tax service chief Mikhail Mishustin as new prime minister. The 53-year-old Mr Mishustin has worked in the government since 1998 and has kept a low profile while serving as the head of the Federal Tax Service since 2010.
Mr Putin’s choice of Mr Mishustin, who lacks any political weight, indicates that he will not play an independent role.
Outgoing premier Dmitry Medvedev earlier resigned his post after Mr Putin announced his constitutional amendments.
Mr Putin kept his long-time ally in the Kremlin’s leadership structure, appointing him to the newly-created post of deputy head of the presidential Security Council.
Mr Medvedev, who served as a placeholder president in 20082012 to allow Mr Putin to observe term limits, said he needed to resign in light of his mentor’s proposed changes in government.
In his state of the nation address earlier in the day, Mr Putin suggested amending the constitution to allow politicians to name prime ministers and cabinet members. The authority to make those appointments currently belongs to Russia’s president. Other measures included limiting the supremacy of international law, amending the rules that limit presidents to two consecutive terms and strengthening laws that prohibit presidential candidates who have held foreign citizenship or residency.
The president should retain the right to dismiss the prime minister and cabinet ministers, to name top defence and security officials, and to be in charge of the Russian military and law enforcement agencies, he said.
Mr Putin emphasised that constitutional changes must be put to a nationwide vote. Opposition leader Alexei Navalny said he believed that any referendum on the constitutional changes would be “fraudulent c**p”. He said Mr Putin’s goal was to be “sole leader for life”.