Putin’s Cabinet Reshuffle: A New Era in Russia’s Political Landscape

Russian President Vladimir Putin made remarkable changes in the cabinet as he started his fifth term. The most important of these changes was the dismissal of Sergei Shoigu, who had been Defense Minister for 12 years, and the appointment of Deputy Prime Minister and economist Andrey Belousov. This move caused great repercussions both in Russia and in the international arena.

President Vladimir Putin is at the center of Russia’s political system. Therefore, the real balance of power and political strategies behind cabinet reshuffles are shaped by Putin’s decisiveness and management style. Putin alone makes the key decisions in Russia, and this means that structural changes in the government will not radically alter the central policy.

Dismissal of Sergei Shoigu

The removal of Sergey Shoigu from the Defense Ministry is one of the rare reshuffles in Russia. Shoigu was known as one of Putin’s closest allies and held the post for 12 years. During this time, the fact that the UK has changed defense ministers six times shows how stable Shoigu has been. However, the example of Shoigu shows once again that being close to Putin does not guarantee a job.

Andrey Belousov, an economist, has been appointed as the new Defense Minister. This appointment is considered a meaningful step given the huge financial resources Russia has spent on the war in Ukraine. Considering that Russia’s defense spending has reached 7 percent of GDP, the appointment of a defense minister who can improve financial efficiency seems logical.

Timing of the Reshuffle

The timing of Putin’s changes is also remarkable. Russia did not dismiss Shoigu in 2022, when it suffered military failures in Ukraine. In 2023, Shoigu remained in office after a dispute between Shoigu and Yevgeni Prigojin, the leader of the Wagner mercenary group. However, the fact that Putin made this change at a time when Russia claims to have regained the upper hand on the battlefield shows that he is making decisions at a time of his choosing, not under pressure.

Future Questions and Uncertainties

These changes raise many questions. What is the future of Sergey Shoigu? Will he be able to establish a new center of power in the Security Council Presidency or will his power gradually diminish? What will become of the current Security Council Chairman Nikolai Patrushev? Also, does the replacement of the Defense Minister mean that the Chief of the General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, could also be dismissed?

Putin’s major cabinet reshuffle marks a new era in Russia’s political and military strategies. However, it will be necessary to watch further developments to understand the long-term implications of these changes.