Lukashenko: Belarus must remain a presidential republic, but power must be balanced

Belarus must remain a presidential republic, but power within the country must be balanced. This was stated by President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko today at a meeting with the working group on finalizing the draft of the country's new Constitution, as reported by a BELTA correspondent.

The Head of State drew attention to the fact that the fugitive opposition is trying to convince everyone that the new Constitution of Belarus is being developed for the current President. Alexander Lukashenko debunked this myth: according to him, it is precisely the current Constitution that enshries strong presidential power. "To be frank, the current Constitution is definitely tailored for the President. And no president needs a better Constitution than what they think, by their criteria. This Constitution is indeed very rigid. Many specialists say that our power is of an authoritarian nature due to this Constitution – this is indeed true. And we say why we made this Constitution this way and for the President. Therefore, any other Constitution will be "weaker," read, as they say, "more democratic" than the current one," noted Alexander Lukashenko.

In the opinion of the Head of State, the time has come to redistribute powers between the branches of government at the constitutional level. Their duties and areas of responsibility should be dispersed, but the country must still remain a presidential republic, Alexander Lukashenko is convinced. This, he noted, is also the view of the vast majority of Belarusians: they are in favor of strong presidential power.

"I am absolutely convinced that Belarus must be a presidential republic if we want to preserve the country. And the All-Belarusian People's Assembly is being introduced not because someone present or the current President is eager for this position, but to ensure, as lawyers say, checks and balances," said the Head of State. - This is one of the fundamental things - checks and balances, all laws and legislative acts are built on this, and above all, the Basic Law."

The President stressed that the new draft Constitution should be developed taking into account the constructive opinions of Belarusian citizens, rather than looking back at the fugitive opposition. "We will hear them, whether we want to or not, but reacting to every sneeze from outside our country from people who are currently earning money from Americans, Germans and others, sitting in Poland or Lithuania, means we will stop working and caring for our own people, and neither COVID nor sanctions will help us solve any issue," he summarized.

/>Alexander Lukashenko

According to the Head of State, the working group's task is to continue the activities initiated by the Constitutional Commission. "Naturally, primarily statists and experienced managers, experienced people of various professions have gathered here. It is they who should form the image of the new Constitution," he noted. "The main thing in the work of the current group on constitutional changes is to prevent the imbalance of the system of state power bodies. It is important to avoid the mixing of functions and powers of key bodies and to ensure the coordination of their actions."

As reported, on September 28, at an expanded meeting of the Constitutional Commission, the Head of State, summing up the discussion, determined how and by whom the draft of the new Constitution would be finalized before the referendum. By his order, a decree of the President was prepared on the creation of a working group, which is now engaged in finalizing the draft of the country's Basic Law.

"I will meet with them often to answer some questions. And then, before submitting the draft for nationwide discussion, we will gather in the same composition. The commission is not dissolved, it does not disappear. It continues to work," said Alexander Lukashenko. "A group of lawyers, after nationwide discussion, will review every line and finally write the document in legal language, which will be submitted for referendum. That's where the lawyers will be. And this group should not consist only of lawyers. This should be a group of specialists, including economists and managers."

According to the President, the referendum on the new version of the Constitution of Belarus will take place no later than February 2022.

Source: belta.by