Dmitry Medvedev

Russia has a new Prime Minister , a change that no one predicted, just A Day . For many years, Dmitry Medvedev has been replaced by A Man Most People had never heard of Until Now .

Not only that President Vladimir Putin has initiated a major reform of The Constitution , the one that looks like the start of his "transition": want to keep a much-anticipated influence, if he has left the Kremlin in 2024.

The Details of the Plan are still unclear, but This Week in a surprise shake-up offers curious new notes.

Mr Medvedev's departure was a shock - or at least the timing of it. But it seems that he has to drop his boss a bitch, again.

He has long been a faithful companion to Vladimir Putin - the Most controversial, if he kept the Kremlin warm, as President for four years, until The Constitution allows Mr. Putin to return in 2012. Now he takes the rap for Russia's economic problems.

The Patriotic "blip" on the 2014 annexation of Crimea has faded, and for many families, there is no substitute a balm for the harsh realities of life. Mr Putin state of The Nation speech this year, recognized that the concentration is heavily on the common rattling well-instead of saber in The West .

So, he brought a new man to sort out the economy and the state TV has been pumping out positive messages. Mikhail Mishustin , the Russians said, is to know and be Able to.

The shake-buys-up time, and probably want to, in next year's critical elections to the Parliament, the main pro-Kremlin party, United Russia , is likely to fight.

But it also support help to buy, for Mr Putin's major changes.

Vladimir Putin 's exchange with his constitutional reform in the same direction as the Prime Minister .

The changes include a rebalancing of the responsibility, a little less for The President , for the Parliament. Mr Putin has declared that it brings power closer to the people: parliamentarians more influence on the formation of the government, for example.

He argues, it is more democratic, and more effective.

But Most commentators see this as a masking a different agenda: Vladimir Putin to carve out an appropriate role to pack When he and to go to the Kremlin. After two decades in power he has to protect interests and Allies - a whole System . He may not want to make the effort to leave yourself more with the day-to-day operation of the country, but he is unlikely to fade completely.

The Role of The little-noticed State Council could be of crucial importance for its future.

Mr Putin, already in his head, and now the plans for the anchoring of The Council in The Constitution . It is only a consultative body for now. Souped-up, it could be a way to continue the strings of power. Think, Raul Castro , took a step back from the Cuban presidency, but still, the powerful Communist party of GenSec. Or the Kazakh model, closer to home, where Nursultan Nazarbayev remained head of the security Council and the "leader of The Nation " For Life .

Vladimir Putin could be looking to make His Way to Russia's Supreme leader.

There was speculation that Mr Putin may remove just the two-term limit for the presidency in The Constitution . Nothing is ruled out forever, but that would be highly controversial, even in Russia it is managed-democracy.

When Mr Putin and Dmitry Medvedev seat swap-exchange back in 2012, it caused huge street protests. There is opposition rallies this summer have been more pro -.

The Kremlin probably wants to avoid more of the same, especially in a difficult economic climate.

It is believed that Mr Putin is on the search for a smooth replacement for yourself instead: Putin II, There is still a chance that Mr Medvedev could set the stage for a comeback for this role He was a lined page, not to be ashamed of, After All . It is also possible for the new Prime Minister Mishustin could be president-in-waiting. But After This week, Vladimir Putin seems to surprise more likely.

Mr Putin still has four years on The Job , so there is no big hurry, with the amendments to The Constitution , even if the events have moved unusually rapidly in recent times.

He has Set Up a working group, 75 persons strong, concrete proposals for reforms, and she has her instructions. Around a huge table, Mr Putin warned, to Take Care of The Team , about the "each letter, each comma", how their work relates to the basic law of The Land .

Once the proposals are made, his vision should be clearer. A kind of public confirmation vote is expected before the summer. The Kremlin has decided, in a formal referendum, though. It would be risky.

Despite all The Talk of democracy, Mr Putin would not want his big Plan Rejected to be When it is finally presented.

Source of news: bbc.com