After Putin's speech, Russia's prime minister resigns

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev resigns along with his cabinet government shortly after President Vladimir Putin's annual speech held before the nation.

Admitting his resignation, Putin urged the ministers to continue working until a new government is formed.

Before his resignation, Medvedev met Putin in his office announced the Kremlin, Russianiatoday informs.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin used the annual speech to the nation to call for major constitutional changes, which would increase the powers of Parliament, before the end of its mandate, in 2024.

Addressing the Federal Assembly, Putin said that Russia's Constitution, 1993, should be changed to give State Duma, the lower House of Parliament, the right to appoint ministers of the cabinet and prime minister.

These powers actually belong to the president.

Putin also said Russia should remain the powerful “presidential republic”.

The president must maintain the right to determine the government's tasks and priorities, as well as the right to dismiss the prime minister, its deputy and federal ministers, in the event of failure to perform tasks or loss of confidence”, Putin said.

He also said conditions to become president should be toughed and that any future president must have lived in Russia for at least 25 years and not have any foreign citizenship, the REL reports.