World
Posted:
4 years ago
Russian Government to Resign After Putin's Proposed Reforms
The entire Russian government headed by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev is resigning after President Vladimir Putin proposed reforms.
Putin proposed constitutional amendments that would transfer some powers from the office of the presidency to the prime minister and parliament.
Handing parliament more power then the presidential authority could signal a power shift in Russia.
"Putin's critics have suggested that he is considering various scenarios to remain in power after 2024, including the option of becoming prime minister with extended powers. Similarly, in 2008 Putin swapped places with the prime minister to circumvent the constitutional provision banning the same person from serving two consecutive terms.
In his statement, Medvedev indicated that the government was resigning to clear the way for Putin's proposed reforms.
Putin "outlined a number of fundamental changes to the constitution, significant changes not only to a number of articles of the constitution, but also to the balance of power as a whole," Medvedev said in his statement, which was aired on Russian state television.
"In this context, it's obvious that we, as the government ... should provide the president of our country with the opportunity to make all the decisions necessary for this. And in these conditions, I believe that it would be right, in accordance with Section 117 of the constitution," for the government to resign, Medvedev added.", is written by CNN.
According to the current constitution, the president needs to secure approval from the lower house of parliament to appoint the head of the government, and it is within presidential rights to then appoint all deputies and ministers.