Putin Taps Little-Known Official as New PM
Russian president Vladimir Putin has proposed that the little-known head of the federal tax service take on the post of prime minister, following the resignation of Dmitry Medvedev.
Putin met late on January 15 with Mikhail Mishustin, who has led the tax service since 2010, according to the Kremlin’s website. After the meeting, Putin submitted Mishustin’s candidacy for prime minister to the State Duma, Russia’s lower house of parliament.
Medvedev, prime minister since 2012, announced he would be stepping down with the rest of his cabinet to clear the way for Putin to implement sweeping constitutional changes. These changes, to be approved by a referendum, would give more power to the Duma to choose future prime ministers and other key government officials. They would also limit future presidents to a maximum of two terms, total, rather than two consecutive terms under the current constitution.
Mishustin, 53, was born in Moscow and worked as an IT expert in the 1990s. He joined government in 1998 and did a stint as deputy tax minister between 1999 and 2004. Before leading the tax service, he also served as head of the Federal Agency for Real Estate Cadastre under the economy ministry, and head of the Federal Agency for Managing Special Economic Zones.
Putin’s United Russia party, which dominates the Duma, has declared its unanimous support for Mishustin’s candidacy, although a formal parliamentary vote will take place later today.
The Federal Council, Russia’s upper house, has said it is satisfied with Mishustin’s appointment. Its vice speaker Ilyas Umakhanov said the development as “unexpected,” but described Mishustin as a man of “great experience, the person who was part of the system,” according to the local press.
Once Mishustin is approved into office, his first task will be selecting a new cabinet of either incumbent, acting or new ministers. Current ministers including Alexander Novak, energy minister since 2012, will continue in their roles until the new government is formed.