Mikhail Mishustin to head the new government • Mishustin's appointment, former head of the tax service, won the backing of parliament

• Elected Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin // Photo: AP

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday signed an order appointing Mikhail Mishustin as prime minister, Reuters reports. The appointment of Mishostin, the former head of the tax service, was backed by Parliament.

The rise of Mishostin is part of a sweeping jolt in the Russian political system after Yesterday Dmitry Medvedev resigned as prime minister.

The Times reported that Medvedev's resignation followed a speech given by Putin in which he proposed changing the constitution and expanding the powers of prime ministers and members. The move is seen as an attempt by Putin to create a new position in the Russian political leadership ahead of his term as president in 2024. In a Reuters report, Medvedev announced that he was resigning to allow Putin to change the constitution.