Vladimir Putin is sworn in as President of Russia – for the fifth time: “He will continue along the path he has chosen, with victory in Ukraine the No. 1 priority.”

The current Prime Minister is Mikhail Mishustin, a name that does not immediately sound familiar here. “He is a gray rat, and that is precisely why he is prime minister,” says Jan Baliu, Russia expert at VRT NWS, in a conversation with Radio 1’s New Facts programme. “He is not a competitor of Putin at all.” “But he faithfully carries out what the president orders him to do.”

There has been some speculation in recent weeks about the appointment of a new prime minister. “But this was also said 6 years ago, and it turns out that this is not the case,” says Baliao. At the end of this month, the Duma (Russian parliament) must approve the new or reappointed prime minister. It is possible that there will be a new government after that.

“But no major changes are expected there either,” Ballio says. There is a lot of speculation about Sergei Shoigu, the current Defense Minister, who has often been criticized. “He is under pressure, especially now that his deputy minister, Timur Ivanov, was arrested at the end of April on suspicion of corruption. But he is also a friend of Putin, and he is very loyal. Putin considers loyalty very important, more important than loyalty.” The achievements of his ministers depend on this loyalty.”