In his state of the nation address on Wednesday, Russian president Vladimir Putin suggested amending the country's constitution to allow lawmakers to name prime ministers and cabinet members. The authority to make those appointments currently belongs to Russia's president. It will increase the role of parliament and parliamentary parties, powers and independence of the prime minister and all cabinet members, Putin announced to an audience of top officials and lawmakers. At the same time, Putin argued that Russia would not remain stable if it were governed under a parliamentary system. The president should retain the right to dismiss the prime minister and cabinet ministers, to name top defense and security officials, and to be in charge of the Russian military and law enforcement agencies, he said.
Soon after, in a shock move, Russia's government announced its resignation. In a televised meeting with the Russian president, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said the proposals would make significant changes to the country's balance of power and so "the government in its current form has resigned". "We should provide the president of our country with the possibility to take all the necessary measures" to carry out the changes, Medvedev said. "All further decisions will be taken by the president."
Putin asked Medvedev, his longtime ally, to continue as head of government until a new government has been appointed. "I want to thank you for everything that has been done, to express satisfaction with the results that have been achieved," Putin said. "Not everything worked out, but everything never works out."
Later, Putin proposed the head of Russia's tax service Mikhail Mishustin for the post of prime minister. 53-year-old Mishustin is a relatively obscure figure who has headed the service since 2010. Mishustin will face a vote of approval in the Russian parliament within one week.
Why the constitutional changes?
Putin's current term expires in 2024, and Russia's political elites have been abuzz with speculation about his future plans. The 67-year-old Putin has remained at the helm for more than 20 years longer than any other Russian or Soviet leader since Josef Stalin. He will have to step down after his term ends under the current law, which limits the president to two consecutive terms. Political analyst Kirill Rogov said that Putin's proposals indicate his intention to remain in charge while re-distributing powers between various branches of government. Such a model resembling the Chinese one would allow Putin to stay at the helm indefinitely while encouraging rivalry between potential successors, Rogov said on Facebook, AP reported.
Putin has time till 2024 as president, and what happens next is anybody's guess. He could amend the constitution and stay on, could do a 2008 by putting a close ally as president and take up the PM's post, or could cede presidency but retain power by creating a new position for himself
Alexei Navalny, the most prominent Russian opposition leader, tweeted that the president's speech signalled Putin's desire to continue calling the shots after his term ends. The only goal of Putin and his regime is to stay in charge for life, having the entire country as his personal asset and seizing its riches for himself and his friends, Navalny alleged. Putin served two presidential terms in 2000-2008 before shifting into the prime minister's seat for four years to observe the term limit. Medvedev kept his seat warm and then stepped down after just one term to allow his mentor to reclaim the top job in 2012. While in office, Medvedev raised the presidential term from four to six years.
While Putin continued calling the shots during Medvedev's presidency, he wasn't quite happy with his performance. He was particularly critical of Medvedev's decision to give the green light to the Western air campaign over Libya in 2011 that led to the ouster and the killing of long-time dictator Moammar Gadhafi. Medvedev's decision to step down after one term to let Putin return to the presidency also sparked massive protests in Moscow in 2011-2012 in a major challenge to the Kremlin.
Chinese style premiership?
Observers speculated that Putin may stay in charge after 2024 by shifting into the prime minister's seat after increasing the powers of parliament and the cabinet and trimming presidential authority. Political analyst Dmitry Oreshkin told AP Putin's speech made it clear he was pondering the move to premiership. Putin is advancing the idea of keeping his authority as a more powerful and influential prime minister while the presidency will become more decorative, Oreshkin said. Other potential options include a merger with neighboring Belarus that would create a new position of the head of a new unified state, a prospect rejected by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. In his address, Putin said the constitution must also specify the authority of the State Council consisting of regional governors and top federal officials.
Some analysts have theorized that Putin may try to continue pulling the strings as head of the council after stepping down as president in 2024. Putin also emphasised the need to amend the constitution to give it a clear priority over international law.
-Inputs from AFP, AP
