Two hours later, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, considered Putin’s loyal ally, announced he and his government were resigning. Within a week, Putin had installed Mikhail Mishustin, the former head of Russia’s federal tax service, as prime minister. Putin appointed a special council to advise on proposed constitutional amendments. This immediately drew speculation that Putin was angling to become an influential prime minister in a strengthened parliamentary republic after 2024. Members of the Communist Party of Russia Federation said Wednesday that it would submit its own draft of constitutional amendments to counter the Kremlin’s proposal.

Source: Los Angeles Times February 04, 2020 10:52 UTC