Lawmakers in Russia are set to vote on the appointment of a new prime minister a day after President Vladimir Putin kicked off an unexpected reshuffle of his inner circle.

Mikhail Mishustin, the chief of Russia's tax service, has already arrived at the lower house of parliament, or Duma, on Thursday and is meeting with lawmakers.

The Duma is widely expected to approve his appointment. The 53-year-old Mishustin would replace Dmitry Medvedev, who was Putin's longtime ally and Russia's prime minister for the past eight years.

Medvedev resigned Wednesday together with the whole Cabinet after Putin proposed sweeping changes to the constitution that could keep him in power well past the end of his term in 2024.