By Desmond Nleya
Vladimir Putin has formally begun his fifth term as Russia’s president in a carefully choreographed inauguration ceremony, in a country he has shaped in his image after first taking office nearly a quarter of a century ago.
As required by the law, Prime Minister Mishustin signed a decree on the resignation of the government with the Cabinet of Ministers resigning immediately after the inauguration.
The formation of a new cabinet of ministers will take place according to the new rules established by the amendments to the Constitution adopted in 2020.
The Prime Minister will be appointed by the President after the State Duma approves the candidacy.
The new head of the Cabinet must propose to the President and the State Duma candidates for deputy prime ministers and ministers – except for the heads of the security bloc and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The heads of the Ministry of Defense, FSB, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Emergency Situations and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are appointed by the president after consultations with the Federation Council.
The inauguration ceremony, held Tuesday in the Kremlin, was attended by Russia’s top military and political brass, but the United States and many European nations declined to send a representative after dismissing Russia’s elections as a sham.
Twenty-four years on, Putin has since remained in power as president or prime minister, and tinkered with Russia’s constitution to remove term limits and extend each term’s length from four years to six.
