Putin proposes reappointing Mishustin as prime minister

Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed reappointing Mikhail Mishustin as prime minister, the speaker of the lower house of parliament said, keeping Mr Mishustin in charge of the government as Moscow presses its war in Ukraine.

The Duma’s approval of Mr Mishustin is nearly certain, as there is virtually no opposition in parliament, which has supported Mr Putin in all his decisions, including the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

As stated by Russian law, the government resigned just before Mr Putin, Russia’s leader for nearly a quarter of a century, was sworn in for another six-year term on Tuesday after winning in a landslide re-election in March.

“President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin submitted to the State Duma a proposal on the candidacy of Mikhail Vladimirovich Mishustin for the post of Chairman of the Government,” speaker of the Duma Vyacheslav Volodin said on the Telegram messaging app.

“Today, deputies will make a responsible decision on behalf of their constituents on this issue,” he added.

Mr Putin appointed Mr Mishustin, 58, prime minister in January 2020, replacing Dmitry Medvedev.

Along with other members of the Russian elite, he has been targeted by Western sanctions in connection with the war in Ukraine.

Mr Mishustin is the chief technocrat in the ruling apparatus, with no background in the security services and so, is not part of the so-called siloviki or strongmen faction of intelligence veterans who are close to Mr Putin.

Before becoming prime minister, he headed the federal tax service, where he was credited with more than doubling revenues during his decade in charge.

Mr Mishustin, who will speak in the Duma before the vote, must answer how he will solve a number of tasks set by Mr Putin for the government, including “increasing the defence capability of our country,” Mr Volodin said.