In 2017, following the expiration of the 1994 agreement between Moscow and Kazan which granted Tatarstan substantial autonomy, the title of president was expected to be replaced with head, as it was done with other republics in Russia.

[2] However, shortly after legislative elections in September 2021, deputies in the State Duma prepared a bill to unify the titles of the leaders of all of Russia's regions to head.

[8] Tatarstan's presidential secretary said that the title would remain during a transitional period throughout 2022 where the constitution was to be amended.

The title of president was seen as the last remaining symbol of federalism following the centralization reforms under Vladimir Putin.

[13] On 26 January 2023 Minnikhanov signed the amendments into law; however, the proposed transitional period was abandoned, forcing the title change to occur by 6 February.