Prime Minister of Russia

Prime Minister of Russia
Post	Prime Minister
Body	Russia
Native name	Председатель Правительства Российской Федерации
Insigniasize	120
Insigniacaption	Emblem of the Government
Flagsize	120
Flagcaption	Standard of the Prime Minister
Incumbent	Mikhail Mishustin
Incumbentsince	16 January 2020
Department	Government of Russia
Style	Mr. Prime Minister, His Excellency, (diplomatic)
Member of	State Council, Security Council of Russia
Reports to	President of Russia
Residence	Gorki-9
Seat	Moscow
Nominator	President of Russia
Appointer	State Duma
Termlength	No fixed term
Formation	12 December 1993, (Constitution of Russia)
First	Sergei Stepashin
Salary	~₽9.6 million annually

Prime Minister of Russia. The Prime Minister, officially the Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation, is the head of the Government of Russia and the second-highest ranking official in the Russian Federation, after the President of Russia. Appointed by the President of Russia with the consent of the State Duma, the Prime Minister leads the executive cabinet and is responsible for implementing domestic policy. The office was established by the current Constitution of Russia adopted in 1993, succeeding the position of Premier of the Soviet Union following the dissolution of the USSR.

History and development

The modern office traces its origins to the establishment of the Committee of Ministers of the Russian Empire in 1802, with notable figures like Sergei Witte holding the role of Chairman. Following the Russian Revolution of 1917, the position was succeeded by the Premier of the Soviet Union, with leaders such as Vladimir Lenin and Alexei Kosygin. After the 1993 Russian constitutional crisis and the adoption of the new constitution, the post was re-established in the Russian Federation, with Sergei Stepashin becoming the first official holder under the new framework. The role has evolved significantly from its imperial and Soviet predecessors, operating within a semi-presidential system defined by the Constitution of Russia.

Appointment and removal

The appointment process is initiated by the President of Russia, who must submit a candidate to the State Duma within two weeks after a new presidential inauguration, the resignation of the government, or the rejection of a candidate by the legislature. The State Duma must consider the nomination within one week. If the Duma rejects the President's candidate three times, the President appoints a Prime Minister, dissolves the Duma, and calls for new Legislative elections in Russia. The Prime Minister can be removed by the President at any time, or through a vote of no confidence by the State Duma, as outlined in Article 117 of the Constitution of Russia.

Powers and duties

The Prime Minister's primary duty is to oversee the work of the Government of Russia and organize its activities in accordance with the constitution, federal laws, and presidential decrees. Key powers include determining the operating priorities of the government, submitting proposals on the structure and membership of the federal cabinet to the President of Russia, and presiding over meetings of the Presidium of the Government of Russia. The Prime Minister also signs government resolutions and distributes duties among deputy prime ministers, such as Andrey Belousov. Furthermore, the officeholder represents the government in international relations, including at forums like the G20.

List of prime ministers

Since 1993, the Russian Federation has had ten individuals serve as Prime Minister. The longest-serving is Vladimir Putin, who held the office from 1999 to 2000 and again from 2008 to 2012, before and after his presidential terms. Other notable holders include Viktor Chernomyrdin, who oversaw the economic transition in the 1990s, and Dmitry Medvedev, who served from 2012 to 2020. The current Prime Minister, Mikhail Mishustin, a former head of the Federal Tax Service (Russia), was appointed in January 2020 following the resignation of Medvedev's cabinet.

Relationship with the President

The relationship is defined by the semi-presidential system, where the President of Russia holds predominant executive authority. The President directs the general guidelines of domestic and foreign policy, while the Prime Minister is tasked with their day-to-day implementation, particularly in economic and social matters. The President chairs meetings of the Government of Russia and can overturn its acts if they contradict the constitution or federal law. This dynamic was clearly illustrated during the Presidency of Vladimir Putin, where the Prime Minister's role has often been seen as subordinate, managing administrative and economic affairs.

Office and official residence

The primary working office of the Prime Minister is located within the House of the Government of the Russian Federation, commonly known as the White House, on the Krasnopresnenskaya Embankment in Moscow. The official state residence is Gorki-9, a secured complex outside Moscow previously used by Soviet leaders like Leonid Brezhnev. The Prime Minister also utilizes facilities at the Moscow Kremlin for official meetings and ceremonies. The Standard of the Prime Minister of Russia is flown at these locations when the officeholder is in residence.

Category:Prime Ministers of Russia Category:Government of Russia Category:1993 establishments in Russia