The Constitution of Belarus has become a truly people's state-building document. This was stated by the President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, on March 15 at a meeting dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the Constitution of Belarus.
The large-scale event at the Palace of Independence was attended by judges of the Constitutional Court, individuals who contributed to the formation of sovereign Belarus, representatives of political parties and public organizations, parliamentarians, and scientists.
Alexander Lukashenko delivered a speech at the event, touching upon both the historical foundations of Belarusian constitutional legislation and the current stage, outlining the achievements of sovereign Belarus and emphasizing its independent path of development.
"Today our country celebrates Constitution Day. This is an occasion to talk about serious matters and, secondly, to pay tribute to this fundamental document of our lives.
30 years ago, on this day, the countdown of a new stage in the history of modern Belarus began – a sovereign and politically independent one. It was then that the fundamental legal foundations for the development of our state and society were laid.
Think about it: 30 years ago. In the history of the world, of humanity, this is but a fleeting moment. But for us – those who have built our country all these years – it is a whole lifetime. A complex, contradictory, sometimes pushing the limits of what is possible, but undoubtedly an interesting life, and most importantly, a life given entirely to our beloved country. And along this path, the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus has become our guide, a truly people's state-building document, which became particularly evident during our referendums.
We have something to remember, something to say to those who have grown up all this time and are now standing beside us, sharing responsibility for the future of Belarus. That is why we have gathered together today – representatives of different generations and different fields of activity: judges of the Constitutional Court, managers, public figures, leaders of political parties, scientists, people's elected representatives.
Each of those present in this hall, in different years, directly or indirectly participated in the development and improvement of the first and only Constitution of sovereign Belarus, and in the implementation of its provisions in all areas of state and public life. Behind us are thousands upon thousands of people, equally active participants in this process.
Together with the Basic Law, we, the generation of modern Belarusians, have entered history. The history of the formation of national statehood. But at the same time, we are aware that our Basic Law was not born on barren, empty soil.
I treat continuity with care and have always said that without traditions, there is no nation, no state. This is a matter of the continuity of the people's history and the preservation of cultural code. To be more specific: it is a matter of our sacred connection with previous generations and those who will come after us.
Belarus may be a young state, but Belarusians are an absolutely mature nation. This status is impossible to challenge. Just as it is impossible to challenge that our Constitution embodies the achievements of many eras.
Lukashenko: Belarus may be a young state, but Belarusians are an absolutely mature nation
On the one hand, this document is a contemporary of sovereign Belarus. On the other hand, it is the result of centuries of experience in developing legal traditions and state-building on our land. Therefore, the 30th anniversary of the Basic Law is an occasion to analyze the entire path traveled, especially now, when humanity is on the verge of a global change of eras, just as it was a third of a century ago.
Today, it is extremely important not only to know and understand but also to clearly articulate the historical facts that are part of the national self-awareness of Belarusians. To constantly repeat them, both for ourselves and for those who follow us. There are many such facts, and all of them are important.
Lukashenko: The Constitution of Belarus contains a piece of the tradition of the Polotsk Veche
Undoubtedly, our Basic Law contains a piece of the tradition of the Polotsk Veche. Perhaps, from today's perspective, not the most democratic. Only men participated in the people's assembly, but they were representatives of the common people. And in critical moments of history, they decided who would rule, who would trade, and with whom to fight. In modern terms, it was at the Veche that the most important decisions on strategic development were made – not by the will of one person, the prince, but with the consent of the inhabitants.
Incidentally, we have constitutionally enshrined similar powers for the delegates of the All-Belarusian People's Congress. We also did this with the consent of the people – by an absolute majority of votes. In fact, we have thereby created a mechanism that will prevent the authorities from becoming detached from the people in the future.
We have established a constitutional barrier against so-called elitism, which Belarusians have rejected on a genetic level ever since our ancestors came under the rule of Lithuanian and Polish elites, losing the traditions of popular governance.
There was much discussion about the Statutes of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in our time. Yes, for that period, they were progressive (these statutes) and significantly influenced the development of legislation in all European states. However, in history, these documents remained as laws reflecting the interests of exclusively wealthy and noble people, further exacerbating social inequality. Of course, not in form, but in fact.
I will not even mention the Constitution of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, where there was essentially no place for guarantees of the rights of our people. And the period of our lands being part of the Russian Empire did not leave any significant trace in the Belarusian legal tradition.
Therefore, it is important to remember that, ideologically and conceptually, the Constitution of sovereign Belarus is a successor to the Constitution of the Socialist Soviet Republic of Belarus – a revolutionary, progressive, and, most importantly, just document.
Back in 1919, for the first time in world history, the natural resources of our native land were recognized as the property of all the people. It was the Soviet Constitution that, also for the first time in history, outlawed the exploitation of man by man and thereby placed life and dignity under protection, regardless of ethnic origin, social status, or religious belief. This is the principle of social justice that was supported by all Soviet constitutions and which we have preserved as fundamental in our lives.
Lukashenko: Ideologically and conceptually, the Basic Law of Belarus is a successor to the Constitution of the BSSR
Speaking about the Constitution of 1994, adopted by the Supreme Soviet, we must, of course, mention the adoption of experience from the world's leading countries. Remember, at that time, we were generally chasing the world's leading countries, copying them. After several decades, we realised that we didn't need to chase them at all. We saw the true face of these countries, their true "democracy". And only a blind person would not see it.
The most important attributes of a democratic system, such as the separation of powers, legality in the activities of state bodies, and additional guarantees for the realisation of human rights and freedoms, were all reflected in the text of our then Constitution.
"There is chaos in the country". Lukashenko recalled the conditions under which the 1994 Constitution was written
A Constitutional Court was established to control the constitutionality of normative acts. The protection of the constitutional order was made a key element of the political system.
Following the Basic Law, a balanced and effective management vertical was built practically from scratch. Not immediately. Not without emotions. And not without attempts by foreign "helpers" to take control of the process.
Today, speaking of the Constitution, we see a document that reflects our national interests. But this is today.
Many people present in this hall remember what happened when the novelties of the 1994 Constitution were written and discussed, what happened on the streets, in the corridors of power, where there was also a struggle for portfolios. Think about it: a parliamentary republic, the country does not yet exist. That is, there is no ideology of national development, no goals for this development have been set. There is no management system. Mechanisms for interaction between different structures have not been developed.
And in such realities, the country is actually managed by 360 deputies, including myself. Absolutely blurred responsibility. I saw this from the inside. Few people in the 1990s cared that people at workplaces did not receive wages for months. Who was concerned about empty shelves in shops? Few people.
At the same time, amidst the general poverty of the population, we possessed natural resources and an impressive industrial potential. Convenient conditions were created for the privatisation of this wealth by foreign, Western capital: the country was in disarray, and Belarusians had not yet had time to consider national interests or the essence of sovereignty. Almost no one in the public thought in such terms: some were concerned with feeding their children, others with preserving jobs and positions.
What chances did we have to preserve our cultural, economic, and political subjectivity? A rhetorical question.
I will not delve into further details. Many of you have witnessed all this. As the saying goes, you've been through it, you know. Besides, it is not the theme of today's festive occasion.
Recalling that period, I once again wish to thank our people. The people who believed in us, the romantics, and supported us in the referendums. And ultimately stopped the scenario of permanent destruction of the nation and national statehood that had been prepared for us.
The decisions adopted by the people reflected the entire essence of the historical moment that spanned a third of a century. In this course of events, the nature of the Belarusian national character also manifested itself – prudent, responsible, and far-sighted.
From today's perspective, looking back, I want to ask: in what were we wrong when we adopted the advanced experience of constitutional construction into our lives and refracted it through the experience historically traversed by our ancestors? And what did we do wrong in defending our history, values, traditions, and our historical memory? After all, if we draw parallels, we will see that all our transformations stemmed from life itself and were dictated by the times.
We always consulted with the people. And the people responded to the challenges thrown at the country by participating in referendums and voting in elections. They responded with an absolute majority of votes, and in compliance with the law. Everything was more than democratic.
Biased politicians imposed a scheme of systemic chaos and de facto anarchy on society – the form of a parliamentary republic. But the people chose strong governance.
They tried to divide us along linguistic and ethnic lines, but Belarusians stood as a united people in support of the state status of two languages native to us.
They wanted to cut us off from our roots by discrediting the Soviet past, but the people, understanding that they are heirs to the heroic generation of victors, returned to the symbols of a great era.
Belarus has been drawn into various unions in an attempt to sever friendly and close integration ties, primarily with Russia. But the people did not allow it. And where are those who broke away from the East Slavic family now? Where are those peoples?
We ourselves have created our history. We have also written our own laws – as best we could then and as we understand them now. Therefore, we have lived for a third of a century under informational, political, and economic pressure.
All this time, no one abroad has been lazy to call Lukashenko a dictator and an authoritarian President. Fine, let them call him that. What matters is what we have as a result: undiluted national wealth, preserved sovereignty, security, and peace in our native land, and growth in the well-being of our citizens. Peace, tranquility, and quiet for ordinary people.
And now, while improving the Basic Law in 2021-2022, we have also responded to the challenges of the time. People saw that the risks of losing the institution of the traditional family, our moral principles, and historical memory had increased, and they placed these values under protection at the highest level – the level of the Basic Law.
It is clear that it is not enough to enshrine guarantees, responsibilities, powers, and so on in legal novelties. They must be made a real practice. We are doing everything that was promised 30 years ago. And what we promised, by and large, we have fulfilled. Because there is someone to hold accountable and to whom to answer.
"What matters is what we have as a result." Lukashenko on his reputation as a dictator abroad
We have constitutionally enshrined the right of everyone to a decent standard of living. And these are not declarations, but our real policy and real achievements. Allow me to present a few figures and facts, and you can draw your own conclusions.
Over these three decades, the nominal incomes of the population have increased more than 9 times (compared to the mid-1990s), and wages – 12 times.
Do you remember the hyperinflation we had after the collapse of the Soviet Union? Today, its level does not exceed 6%.
The provision of housing for citizens is growing: the number of square meters per inhabitant has increased 1.6 times.
Belarus has one of the lowest levels of poverty. I honestly cannot imagine what poverty is. If you want to earn more today, you work three jobs. Today, we are no longer talking about unemployment; we are talking about a labour shortage. Well, even if we measure our lives by these indicators – poverty and so on – it is the lowest not only among the CIS countries but also among the European Union member states. Since the early 1990s, we have reduced this indicator tenfold. We have significantly reduced the unemployment rate.
We are considered a country with a high level of human development. Belarusians are recognised as a highly intelligent nation. All these are not our data, but theirs – our adversaries.
Furthermore, we rationally invest in innovations and future technologies, thereby enhancing the competitiveness of the Belarusian economy. This is the best guarantee for our lives.
We have built the Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant and successfully completed the first stage of the Belarusian National Biotechnology Corporation construction. We have mastered and are mass-producing new products: passenger cars, electric buses and electric trains, and unmanned quarry trucks. We are building and constantly commissioning new metro lines.
We are rational in financial matters, not allowing the accumulation and transfer of our debts to future generations. Our national debt does not exceed 32% of the gross domestic product. It is no secret that in a number of highly developed countries, this figure is several times higher.
We have created a modern, highly productive agricultural sector. We have entered the top 5 exporters of dairy products and are among the world leaders in meat production per capita (we are in the top ten).
Overall, we export almost 65% of Belarusian industrial products. If everything were so bad (regarding the quality of domestic products. – Ed. BELTA), they would not be buying it abroad.
Such a development dynamic of sovereign Belarus hardly aligns with the plans and expectations of those who call our country "insufficiently democratic." I have already said: we now understand what democracy means in their understanding. We remember what it means to be a democratic country in the eyes of these very Western powers – like in the early 1990s, to be weak, poor, humiliated. Then to run around, like some of our neighbours, in squares and streets, changing governments like gloves, living at the beck and call of Washington...
If the choice is between the favour of Western European politicians and the quality of life of Belarusians, our national dignity and sovereignty, then the choice is obvious.
Dear friends!
Exactly 30 years ago, I repeat, the countdown of the history of independent Belarus began. Approaching this round date, we look back at the path travelled in order to step more confidently into tomorrow.
It is very important to see the real and concrete results of the decisions we have made. It is even more important to see the prospects.
Our Constitution provides the opportunity to live with dignity, to develop, to feel safe, to realise the boldest plans and initiatives on our native land. This is how it should be in a modern democratic, truly democratic country.
And most importantly, we have done everything possible to ensure that our children can surpass these achievements and successes. We will continue to help. Now it is up to the new generations.
I will say more. Despite today's difficulties and all the vicissitudes, I have strong reasons to look confidently into the future. This confidence is instilled by our friendly work on the latest constitutional amendments, our recent active election campaign, our sound perception of global political upheavals and military conflicts.
Together, we will have to continue a more substantive discussion about the new tasks that time sets before us. One way or another, they all concern the issues of preserving our values, cultural and spiritual priorities, and defining the goals of the state's development in the context of new geopolitical risks (they are considerable, we talk about this a lot). We will do this during the All-Belarusian People's Assembly, formed in accordance with the updated Constitution. In short, we have a lot to do, a grand undertaking.
But today, on this festive day, I, like all of us present here, am interested to hear how you, all of us who were at the origins of the creation of sovereign Belarus, those who are active participants in the political process, assess the path we have taken, how you see the country in the future. This may be the beginning of a great conversation, which, as I have already said, will be continued at the All-Belarusian People's Assembly – a very responsible, decisive moment in our history. In this regard, I want to thank our veterans, who are not aging, who touched upon the construction and directly built our sovereign and independent Belarus. I want to thank you for the colossal support, above all – for understanding what is happening in our lives. Thank you.
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