Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev announced he and all government officials resigned in order to allow Putin to amend the constitution.

Medvedev, 55, made the announcement on state television today, sitting next to Putin. Medvedev said that the proposed constitutional amendments would make significant changes to the country's balance of power and therefore, the current administration needs to be replaced.

"We should give the President the ability to take all necessary measures" to make changes, Medvedev said. "All subsequent decisions will be made by the President."

Medvedev's decision allows Putin to appoint a new prime minister, potentially signaling his supporters as future presidents. Putin, 67, who has led Russia for 20 years, will end his fourth term in 2024.

Unclear when the new prime minister will be appointed, Putin asks Medvedev and his ministers to continue working until the new government is formed. Potential candidates to replace Medvedev include Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, Economy Minister Maxim Oreshkin or Energy Minister Alexander Novak.

Earlier, Putin had read the Federal Message, proposing a constitutional amendment that gave the Russian lower house the right to choose the prime minister and senior cabinet positions. This power now belongs to the President.

Russia currently imposes a limit on one president who cannot hold office for more than two consecutive terms. Putin wants to change this rule to a president that can serve only two terms. He also proposed tightening standards with the Russian presidential candidate.

Putin announced Medvedev would take on the new job as vice chairman of the Russian Security Council, which is the agency where Putin is chairman. It is the advisory body for the president in running the state, planning domestic, foreign, military and security policies.

Medvedev was appointed Putin by Putin in 2012. He was Russia's president in 2008-2012, when Putin was prime minister. But at this stage, he is credited with implementing Putin's ideas.

"I want to thank you for everything that has been done, I want to express my satisfaction with the results achieved," Putin told Medvedev. "Not all policies work, but life is always like that."

Experts say Putin wants to change the constitution to limit the successor's power after he leaves. Some argue that after 2024, he may continue to serve as prime minister or head of the State Council, which advises Russian heads of state.

Putin became Russian president in 2000-2008, became Russian prime minister in 2008-2012 and continued as president since 2012. Recent polls show Putin's confidence level of 68-70%, low. much better than 80% in the previous term. The Russian economy was stagnant and the income of most Russians fell due to Western sanctions because Russia annexed Crimea in 2014.