Putin Empowers President Before Leaving

Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin launched a debate on amendments to the constitution on Wednesday to bolster the powers of Parliament and reduce those of the head of state, leading to the resignation of the government, whose prime minister and power partner are two For decades, Dmitri Medvedev will take up the new post of Vice President of the Security Council.

The main ideas were presented, apparently by surprise, in the annual address to the Federation Assembly, an extraordinary session bringing together the Duma (lower house of Parliament) and the Federation Council (upper house) attended by senior officials and guests.

“Very serious changes”

“These are very serious changes in the political system,” Putin said. Russian opponents and analysts cited by international media interpret them as designed to prepare a new change in seats to re-occupy the prime minister and stay in power.

Putin proposes the transfer to the Duma of the power to choose the prime minister and nominate the entire government, which the constitution still confers on the president, although the head of state will retain the prerogative of dismissing the executive.

It is about “increasing the role of Parliament and parliamentary parties, the powers and independence of the Prime Minister,” he said. “Almost all forces are represented in the Duma,” which “is prepared for more responsibility” and Russian society is “more mature, responsible and demanding,” he noted.

However, “Russia must remain a strong presidential republic,” said the leader, for whom it is clear that “the president will retain the right to set the government’s missions and priorities.”

Although he has not clarified what he will propose, Putin, who has been in power for 20 years and is due to step down in 2024, has addressed the issue of limitation of mandates (two consecutive times, the Constitution says). Although “I don’t think it’s of fundamental importance,” it recognizes the need to discuss it in society.

Other changes, to be submitted to the referendum after approval in Parliament, impose restrictions on the election of the president. For example, you may not have lived abroad for the past 25 years or had another nationality. Like high office holders, judges included may not be resident in another country.

Strengthening the powers of regional governors and the Council of State (made up of regional presidents and senior positions) is another objective of the reforms.

“Balance of powers”

A few hours after the presidential speech, in which he announced the creation of the post of vice-president of the Security Council and the proposal to be held by Dmitri Medvedev, the prime minister appeared on television screens next to Putin, saying that He was handing over his resignation from the Government.

“After the changes are adopted, there will be significant changes, not only in various articles of the Constitution, but also in the balance of powers,” he said.

“As the Government of the Russian Federation, we must give the President of our country the conditions to take all necessary measures,” he added. Putin accepted her, thanked her “for everything they did” and said “pleased with the results, even if they did not achieve all.”

Just yesterday, Putin was announced as the new prime minister: Mikhail Mishustin, 53, an economist, head of the Federal Tax Service since 2010, an efficient but unknown technocrat that state news channel Rossiya 24 says has put in place. practice “the best tax collection system in the world”.