A shock announcement from the Russian President has triggered mass resignations with his opposition claiming he could control the country forever.
Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev resigned his post after Mr Putin announced the proposed constitutional amendments.Russian government sources told the BBC that ministers did not know about the government’s resignation ahead of the announcement.President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.
Alexei Navalny, the most prominent Russian opposition leader, tweeted that Mr Putin’s speech clearly signalled his desire to continue calling the shots even after his term ends. In televised comments on Wednesday, Mr Medvedev said he needed to resign in light of Mr Putin’s proposed changes in government.
Mr Putin has been in power longer than any other Russian or Soviet leader since Josef Stalin, who led from 1924 until his death in 1953. In his address, Mr Putin said the constitution must also specify the authority of the State Council consisting of regional governors and top federal officials. Other possible options include a merger with neighbouring Belarus that would create a new position of the head of a new unified state — a prospect that has been rejected by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.
Although Mr Putin continued calling the shots during Mr Medvedev’s presidency, he wasn’t totally happy with all his actions.
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