The Kremlin’s New Man Will Keep Us Guessing
Since Vladimir Putin picked him as prime minister, Mikhail Mishustin has shown himself to be a man for this political season.
Results oriented.
Photographer: Ramil Sitdikov/Host Photo Agency via Getty Images
Russian prime ministers are often swiftly forgotten. Few, like Vladimir Putin himself, have gone on to greater things.
Since taking over as prime minister in January, Mikhail Mishustin has promoted himself out of the first group. The tech-savvy former tax chief became the face of the government’s coronavirus response after Putin, early on, faded from view. He’s pushing through an ambitious national spending program that’s dear to the president. His personal popularity has been rising. And, in November, he tightened his hold on the domestic agenda with a cabinet reshuffle.