The Entire Russian Government Resigns As Vladimir Putin Calls For Constitutional Reform

The entire Russian government led by former Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev resigned after Russian President Vladimir Putin gave a speech on constitutional reform, Reuters reported. Medvedev said, this was “to give President Vladimir Putin room to carry out the changes he wants to make to the constitution.”

Russian government resigns, after #Putin's State-of-the-Nation Address proposes changes to the constitution

DETAILS: https://t.co/ryNpv9aSjU pic.twitter.com/Atcp9wg2l8

— RT (@RT_com) January 15, 2020

Medvedev stated the constitutional reforms presented by Putin would make significant changes to the country’s balance of power and so “the government in its current form has resigned”.

“All further decisions will be taken by the president,” Medvedev added.

The announcement came during Putin’s annual state of the nation address during which he proposed changes to the Russian constitution that would give Parliament a more powerful role.

The changes Putin proposed to the Russian constitution will give more authority to parliament, including the power to choose the prime minister and senior cabinet members, instead of the president as under the current system.

Further changes include enhancing the role of regional governors, tightening the residency requirements for presidential candidates and other top officials, and giving the Federation Council, Russia’s upper chamber, powers over the appointment of security officials.

“Today in our society there is a clear demand for change,” Putin said during his address. “People want development, they are striving to move forward in their careers, in their education, in becoming prosperous.”

The package of reforms will be presented as a national vote, Putin added, without specifying when that vote will occur.

“I consider it necessary to conduct a vote by the country’s citizens on an entire package of proposed amendments to the country’s constitution,” Putin said.

“We will be able to build a strong prosperous Russia only on the basis of respect for public opinion,” Putin added.

The move is intended according to many for Putin to retain power after the end of his presidency in 2024.

“It’s not clear what role he will play, what will his status be. The only thing which is clear is that he will keep his role as the No. 1 person,” Alexey Chesnakov, a political analyst who previously served as a Kremlin aide, told The Wall Street Journal.

There has been long speculation about potential changes to Russia’s political system that would allow Putin to stay on after 2024, when he is currently required to step down. However, that might not be the case anymore with reform leading many to believe this is a way for Putin to continue ruling Russia after his fourth Kremlin term, perhaps as a behind-the-scenes role.

Putin among other changes, also proposed imposing a two-term limit on future presidents of Russia.

This could make Putin Russia’s President or shadow leader for life (or at least until he dies).

Putin named Mikhail Mishustin, the head of the country’s tax service, to replace Medvedev, who he praised for his service. Medvedev has been the PM for the past eight years, DW reported.

Medvedev became prime minister in 2012, after serving four years as president with Putin as his PM. He currently heads the ruling United Russia party. Putin has been in power as either the president or the prime minister since 1999 and now this new move seeks to give him job security going forward within Russia’s government.

Mishustin will face a vote in the lower house of Russian parliament on Thursday, the RIA news agency reported.

Putin said he intended to create a new position of deputy secretary of Russia’s Security Council. Medvedev, however, is still going to remain in a seat of power in the Russian government and is said to take on a new job as deputy head of Russia’s Security Council, which Putin is going to chair.

**By [@An0nkn0wledge](https://steemit.com/@an0nkn0wledge)**

Aaron Kesel writes for Activist Post. Support us at Patreon. Follow us on Minds, Steemit, SoMee, BitChute, Facebook and Twitter.

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