“Man of the strong hand”: what is known about the candidate for the premiere of Mikhail Mishustin

On January 16, the State Duma considered the candidacy of the head of the Federal Tax Service, Mikhail Mishustin, for the post of prime minister. Before consideration, the official met with representatives of parliamentary factions, after which three of them - United Russia, the Liberal Democratic Party and Just Russia - supported his candidacy. The Communist Party said it would abstain from the vote, which will also take place on Thursday.

Mishustin’s candidacy was nominated the day before by President Vladimir Putin after Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev announced the resignation of his government. This decision was made after Putin addressed the Federal Assembly, in which he proposed a number of significant amendments to the Russian Constitution.

Mikhail Mishustin, who has been the head of the Federal Tax Service for ten years, is known, in particular, for his successes in digitalizing the service. Under his leadership, she began to actively develop electronic services, and also introduced new standards for servicing taxpayers. In addition, he sought to simplify the interaction of business and citizens with tax authorities.

Mishustin himself in an interview with RT in 2016 noted that the effectiveness of the Russian tax system and its administration are at a very high level. He recalled that the department has reorganized many business processes to make the tax system as transparent and modern as possible. The head of the Federal Tax Service also said that with the help of innovations and the introduction of new technologies, it is possible to bring the tax service and taxpayers closer.

“It is important that the young generation - tomorrow's taxpayers - use interfaces that are convenient and understandable for them. Therefore, we, the tax authorities, need to come to social networks and create mobile applications with a simple and user-friendly interface, ”the official said.

The First Deputy Secretary of the General Council of United Russia, State Duma deputy Olga Batalina, in an interview with RT, said that, heading the tax service, Mikhail Mishustin did what most of the similar services in the world failed.

“I know Mikhail Vladimirovich, I work with him. He built such a technological service, oriented to the consumer’s request, that in spite of all its supervisory character, the attitude of citizens to the tax service in our country is very good ... Of course, the merits of Mikhail Vladimirovich are not only in organizing an effective tax service, he is an ideologist of so many financial , economic and tax decisions, knows the financial situation of the regions, ”said the deputy.

Batalina expressed the opinion that Mishustin will be able to solve one of the priority tasks that Vladimir Putin spoke about in the message, namely, ensuring social unity and equality throughout the country.

“So that people who live in“ poor ”regions do not have problems getting high-quality social, educational and other opportunities,” the politician noted.

According to her, at a meeting with the United Russia faction, Mishustin called the key goal the high-quality and efficient implementation of the tasks set by the president.

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Mikhail Mishustin is a professional who knows how to organize a large and serious process in difficult conditions, said RT political analyst, director of the International Institute of the Newest States, Alexei Martynov. The expert recalled that today the phrase "tax inspection" does not cause fear among entrepreneurs or citizens.

“It’s enough to remember how he managed to change, if not build from scratch, the tax collection system ... And in order to change the principle and approach in the mass consciousness to such a very important component of the state as tax collection, serious talents and competencies are needed” - he noted.

Mikhail Mishustin was born in Moscow, he is a graduate of MSTU "Stankin" with a degree in system engineer. After university, he worked at the International Computer Club, which specialized in integrating Western information technologies into the country. In 1998, he transferred to the civil service in the field of taxation, was an assistant to the head of the State Tax Service on information systems for accounting and control over the receipt of payments, and then deputy head of the department. In 2004, he headed Rosnedvizhimost, then - the Federal Agency for Management of Special Economic Zones.

In 2008, he left the civil service and headed UFG Capital Partners, an asset management company, and in 2010, renewing the career of an official, he headed the Federal Tax Service.

Member of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy Yevgeny Revenko, in an interview with RT, called Mishustin a very strong and modern administrator.

“This is a man of strong hands, while he knows the background of everyone and everything, as the main tax collector. He was able to create a system that is not repressive, on the one hand, and on the other hand, quite rigid, but also as convenient and transparent as possible. It has become convenient to pay taxes, ”he said.

Mishustin, at a meeting with the United Russia faction, indicated that the digital economy would be a priority, Revenko added, and that he would implement the tasks set by the president with the help of modern tools.

Journalist Tina Kandelaki reminded RT that Vladimir Putin has set ambitious goals that require new approaches and new faces. She noted that even the opposition has no complaints about the work of Mishustin as head of the Federal Tax Service, and therefore he can get the necessary support from various Duma parties.

Mikhail Mishustin himself during a meeting with the Communist Party faction said that he intends to first deal with the fight against poverty, and also promised a radical change in the Cabinet.