The government will submit an annual report to the State Duma. What you need to know

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin will deliver the government's annual report to the State Duma on March 26. He will also answer questions from deputies who will evaluate the work of the Cabinet over the past year. How this event is going and what to expect from the speech of the head of government can be found in the Izvestia article.

What questions will the government be asked?

• Since 2008, the Russian Constitution stipulates that the State Duma annually hears the government's report on the results of its activities, including on issues raised by the lower house of Parliament itself. Questions are sent by individual factions through the State Duma Control Committee within the time limit set by the State Duma Council.

• Questions about the government's activities may also relate to the implementation of resolutions adopted when considering the federal budget for the next fiscal year, and other draft laws and resolutions of the State Duma. The Council of the lower house approves the final list of issues and sends it to the Government.

• The government's report is heard in the State Duma in the spring session, and the Prime Minister must read the report. The exact date of the event is set by the State Duma Council in consultation with the Cabinet of Ministers. The regulations allow that on this day the meeting of the State Duma may be devoted only to the discussion of the annual report.

• Deputies have the right to ask their questions to the Prime Minister and express their opinion on the Government's activities. The right of first refusal belongs to the representatives of the factions. Based on the results of the report, the State Duma may adopt a resolution approving or disapproving of the work of the Cabinet.

What will be the 2025 report?

• In 2025, the government's report will be held on March 26. It will be presented for the sixth time by the head of the Cabinet of Ministers Mikhail Mishustin. On the eve of the event, he held a meeting to prepare a report and said that for two weeks he had held meetings with representatives of all five Duma factions and Speaker of the lower house of parliament Vyacheslav Volodin to discuss issues of concern to deputies.

• Mishustin noted that the annual report will focus on measures taken by decisions and instructions of Russian President Vladimir Putin in many areas. Issues of demography, support for families with children and members of the SVO, road construction, landscaping, industrial and medical development will be discussed. The Prime Minister pointed out that it is important to strive to achieve the two main goals of the country's strategic development — improving the well-being of citizens and developing the economy.

How was the report last year?

• In 2024, the government's report to the State Duma was held on April 3. Mishustin spent five hours talking about the results of his work over the past year and answering questions from deputies. A total of 309 written questions were sent, which formed the basis of the report. This was the last report of the government in its previous composition, and a new cabinet of ministers began its work in May.

• The central theme of the report was the implementation of strategic objectives in the context of the economy's adaptation to new crisis challenges. Mishustin said that the government managed to get through the most difficult period and form the basis for further economic development. He noted that by the end of 2023, Russia's GDP growth amounted to 3.6%, which exceeded the figures of many developed countries.

• Mishustin called inflation one of the main challenges of 2023. Thanks to the measures taken, it slowed down to 7.4% from the previous double-digit values in 2022. This has helped the Government fulfill its social obligations and support the economy and the regions. Mishustin noted that the indexation of pensions, payments and benefits has outpaced inflation.

• The Prime Minister's speech was also devoted to the development of healthcare, housing and infrastructure construction, the growth of the agricultural sphere and industry, the development of science and the strengthening of technological sovereignty. Mishustin also touched upon the topic of migration, which at that time became relevant in connection with the terrorist attack in Crocus City Hall.

Why do we need a government report?

• The Government and Parliament act in relation to each other as independent bodies of state power, representing two different branches of government — legislative and executive. The only form of government accountability is the annual report of the Prime Minister. This event serves as a platform for parliamentary discussion and official assessment and recommendations from the main elected body of the country.

• The State Duma has the right to recognize the government's work report as unsatisfactory and further express distrust of its activities. At the same time, the Parliament does not have the authority to issue policy directives or mandatory instructions to the government based on the results of the report. The State Duma only evaluates the government in terms of its effectiveness and legality. Since 2009, when the first government report was announced, the State Duma has always approved the work of the Cabinet.

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• Criticism of the government was not without its share. In 2009, the Communist Party faction demanded the resignation of several ministers, including Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin. In 2012, the Fair Russia faction left the meeting room in protest against the results of the Astrakhan mayoral election. In 2013, Dmitry Livanov, the Minister of Education, came under fire. In the future, the parliamentarian's most pressing questions mainly concerned migration, budget allocation, tax policy, and social security.