The government began to form after
Vladimir Putin's inauguration on 7 May 2018, when Putin nominated Medvedev as Prime Minister. On the same day,
United Russia decided to support Medvedev. Since United Russia had more than half of the seats in the
State Duma, this means Medvedev would become Prime Minister even if all other parties opposed him. On 8 May, the
Liberal Democratic Party also expressed support for Dmitry Medvedev and nominated six candidates for Ministerial posts. On the same day, after a meeting with Dmitry Medvedev, the
Communist Party and
A Just Russia refused to support Medvedev. For the first time since 1991 candidates for Deputy Prime Ministers were nominated before the hearings in the
State Duma.
State Duma confirmation On 8 May, Dmitry Medvedev was confirmed by the State Duma as Prime Minister.
Structure and composition On 15 May, Dmitry Medvedev presented to President
Vladimir Putin a draft structure of the Cabinet. Thus
Ministry of Education and Science was divided into the
Ministry of Education and the
Ministry of Science and Higher Education.The
Ministry of Communications and Mass Media was renamed to the
Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media. In addition it was established that the Prime Minister would have ten deputies. On the same day Putin signed a decree "On the Structure of Federal Executive Bodies". On 18 May 2018, Dmitry Medvedev presented the composition of the Cabinet, and on the same day Putin approved the composition. In general almost a third of the composition of the government was changed. Their posts retained 13 members. Four people who were in the previous Cabinet remained in the government and took new positions. Two were past members of the government and returned to the government after a break. The remaining 12 members of the government were new to their positions. ==Subsequent changes==