(15 Feb 2020) ***
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev's resignation was accepted by President Vladimir Putin on January 15th 2020.
The news came hours after Putin proposed constitutional amendments which could herald his intention to carve out a position which would let him stay at Russia's helm after his presidency ends.
Medvedev said in televised comments 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, Putin suggested amending the constitution to allow lawmakers to name prime ministers and Cabinet members.
The Russian leader thanked Medvedev for his service but said the prime minister's Cabinet had failed to fulfil all of its objectives.
In televised remarks, Putin said Medvedev would take up a new position as a deputy head of the presidential Security Council.
Medvedev, a long time close associate of Putin's, has served as Russia's prime minister since 2012.
He spent four years before that as president in 2008-2012, becoming a placeholder when Putin had to switch into the prime minister's office because of constitutional term limits on the presidency.
Medvedev obediently stepped down after just one term as president and let Putin reclaim the top job in what was widely seen as cynical political manoeuvering that triggered massive protests in Moscow.
Putin asked the members of Medvedev's Cabinet to keep working until a new Cabinet is formed.
***
Russians welcomed the resignation of country's prime minister on January 15th according to recent polls.
An online survey conducted by the Research Centre of the website Superjob.ru suggested that 54% of Russians were positive about the resignation of Dmitry Medvedev and his Cabinet.
Russian President Vladimir Putin accepted the resignation of his prime minister hours after proposing sweeping constitutional changes during his state of the union address.
The proposed amendments could herald Putin's intention to carve out a political position which would let him stay at Russia's helm after his current term as president ends.
Medvedev said his resignation was necessary in view of Putin's proposed reforms.
In his state of the nation address earlier in the day, Putin suggested amending the constitution to allow lawmakers to name prime ministers and Cabinet members.
One Moscow resident said: "In principle, the only question is why it (the decision on Medvedev's resignation) took such a long time. To be honest, such government should be expelled many many years ago."
***
Russian Tax Service chief Mihail Mishustin met with lawmakers on January 16th following President Vladimir Putin's nomination of him to be the new Prime Minister.
Putin's announcement came as part of proposed changes to the constitution that could keep him in power well past the end of his term in 2024.
Lawmakers were expected to approve Mishustin's nomination during a plenary meeting at the State Duma.
Outgoing Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev resigned after Putin made the proposals.
Putin kept his longtime ally Medvedev in the Kremlin's leadership structure by appointing him to the newly created post of deputy head of the presidential Security Council.
But the duties and influence of that position are unclear.
United Russia politician Sergey Neverov said the party's position was to "unanimously support" Mishustin's nomination.
Once Mishustin becomes Prime Minister, he is expected to form a new cabinet.
***
Russia's parliament has backed President Vladimir Putin's constitutional amendments on January 23rd, a move widely seen as an attempt by Putin to stay in power.
Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
