What Should Belarus Expect From ‘Technocrat’ Mishustin?

The new Prime Minister of the Russian Federation may begin to deal with money more pragmatically.

As the Moscow press calls him, the “new manager” and “technocrat” Mikhail Mishustin became the new Prime Minister of Russia. Now Minsk should wait for more pragmatic relations with Moscow, but the rulers of the two countries will continue to solve key issues.

Such an opinion in a comment for Naviny.by was expressed by experts of the two countries.

The former government of the Russian Federation, led by Dmitry Medvedev, resigned after Putin announced political reform in Russia. Formally, it involves the strengthening of the role of parliament, and the weakening of presidential powers.

The new Prime Minister, most likely, was selected under the new configuration of power. Voting on amendments to the Russian Constitution may take place before May 1.

Pragmatic attitude

Before being appointed Prime Minister, Mikhail Mishustin served as Head of the Federal Tax Service. He is known as an effective technocrat: over 10 years of leadership of the Federal Tax Service, he made the Russian tax service one of the most technically equipped and progressive.

He is called a “cool professional” in the IT industry, but the interlocutors of Russian publication The Bell’s note that, among the authorities and among the largest businessmen, in addition to efficiency, he also has the ability to intrigue and build relationships in order to achieve the right decisions.

As Vedomosti writes with a reference to an official from the presidential administration, Mikhail Mishustin is equidistant from political and business groups, understands the situation in various industries, worked closely with security officials, knows how to solve specific problems, and also build relationships, he has authority on international grounds.

“Mishustin is primarily a mathematician, and IT specialist in complex systems. He has the recommendation of being an effective crisis manager, who three times in his biography came to an absolutely hopeless and ruined state institution, and turned it into an absolutely exemplary, transparent and non-corrupt office,” Associate Professor of political theory at MGIMO, candidate of political sciences Kirill Koktysh told Naviny.by in a comment.

According to him, “in this regard, communication between Russia and Belarus will most likely switch to an absolutely pragmatic basis, where everyone will see where and what resources are moving. Shadow relationship formats (cuts and so on) will be excluded.”

At the same time, issues in the energy sector, which is key and often leads to disagreements between countries, will continue to be resolved at the level of rulers.

“It was like that under the previous government. Fundamental energy issues were brought to the level of top officials. I think that the same order will be preserved,” said the Associate Professor of political theory at MGIMO.

In general, in his opinion, Putin will determine the Belarusian-Russian policy in Russia, and the technocratic government will implement his instructions.