Russian Govt. Resigns What Is Putin’s Big Plan – Free PDF Download

The News

• Vladimir Putin delivered his annual address to Russia’s Federal Assembly (a speech similar to the U.S. president’s State of the Union Address) recently.
• He proposed many radical changes in the government structure of Russian Federation
• The Russian Prime minister and his council have resigned for the new reforms to take place.

Russian Polity

• According to the Constitution of Russia(1993), the President of Russia is head of state, and of a multi-party system with executive power exercised by the government, headed by the Prime Minister, who is appointed by the President with the parliament’s approval.
• The president is elected directly through a popular vote to a six-year term.
• The law prohibits anyone from ever being elected to the presidency for a third consecutive term.

                   What changes have been announced?

• Putin has proposed sweeping constitutional changes.

1. Transferring more power to parliament by allowing lawmakers to name prime ministers and cabinet members
2. Amending how heads of security agencies are appointed to allow the president to decide after consulting the Federation Council (the upper house)
3. “Enshrining” the State Council, a body that advises the president
4. Increasing the residency requirements for presidential candidates from 10 years to 25 years.
5. Preventing presidential candidates who have held foreign residency in the past, not just at election time.
6. Allowing the Russian constitutional court to review whether laws comply with the constitution before the president signs them.
7. Preventing international law from being prioritised over Russian law
8. Prohibiting civil servants from holding foreign citizenship
9. Adding a provision to keep minimum wage and pensions above the poverty line

A referendum

1. A referendum will be held for the public to vote on these proposals.
2. Russia last conducted a referendum in 1993 when it adopted the current constitution.
3. Putin didn’t give a date for the proposed referendum.
4. The current government will continue its work until Putin hand-picks a new one to oversee the constitutional changes to Russia’s systems and structures of power.

The New PM – Mikhail Mishustin

• Head of the Federal Taxation Service

Why has Putin brought these changes?

A POLITICAL RETIREMENT PLAN

• His legacy and his security all depend on retaining some
• He will weaken the presidency and shift more powers to the prime minister.
• Moderate changes >>  Radical changes
• He can create a new position for himself, putting into constitution increased powers for the head of the Russian State Council.
• The State Council is an advisory body to the Russian head of state, which deals with issues of the highest importance to the state as a whole.

Decreasing Popularity

• In January 2019 percentage of Russians trusting the president hit the historic minimum – 33.4%

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