Will Russian government shake-up impact Moscow’s Mideast policy?
The surprise resignation of the Russian Cabinet and a possible new role for Putin when his presidential term ends in 2024 raise questions about possible changes in Russian foreign policy.
Following President Vladimir Putin’s annual address to the Federal Assembly on Jan. 15, the entire Russian Cabinet led by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev resigned. This included the two longest-serving ministers — Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu —– both of whom played key roles in Russia’s foreign policy in the Middle East.
In his state of the nation address, Putin proposed a set of constitutional changes that should soon be voted on in a national referendum. The changes would limit future presidential tenure to two terms in office, tighten residency requirements for presidential candidates and empower the parliament to choose candidates for prime minister and the Cabinet. This essentially weakens the institution of the president but empowers those of the parliament and the State Council, or Gossovet. Now a consultative body, under the new structure the State Council would acquire a higher status and be part of the executive power.
“All of the amendments Putin initiated seek not to consolidate his own powers when he will have to leave the presidential post in 2024 but rather to create mechanisms that would allow him to regulate disagreements with a future president, should they arise,” said Tatiana Stanovaya, an expert with the Moscow Carnegie Center.
Others, however, said they thought Putin, 67, was seeking a means to extend his hold on power.
