Lukashenko thanked the FPB for its active participation in the parliamentary election campaign

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko thanked the Federation of Trade Unions for its active participation in the parliamentary election campaign. The Head of State announced this at a meeting with the Chairman of the FTU, Mikhail Orda, as reported by a BELTA correspondent.

"A lot depended on the organised conduct of this campaign, and the trade unions made a worthy contribution to its organisation," the President said. "We agreed that the trade unions would take an active part in the campaign, help organise it locally, which was done."

Alexander Lukashenko emphasised the role of the FTU in the socio-political life of the country, calling the organisation one of the most numerous. "The core consists of people who work and labour, not those who engage in politicking or stroll along the clean and cosy streets of Minsk," he noted.

During the meeting, the progress of preparations for the eighth congress of the Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus, scheduled for the end of February, was also discussed.

Alexander Lukashenko instructed the Head of the Presidential Administration and the government to join the preparation process for this event. "If support is needed locally to organise the election of delegates, so that it is democratic and decent, so that no one points fingers afterwards, because there are many who wish to. Even after today's conversation, they will start accusing the trade unions of becoming a party and playing almost the main role in the political process. You don't need to dwell on this; you are an experienced person, I know this," the Head of State emphasised.

According to him, trade unions should be proud of the role they play in modern Belarusian society. "It's a difficult time, people are different, naturally. Some will gossip about it one way, some another. But everyone must understand: God forbid any difficult times, we will need both trade unions and the Komsomol (as it used to be called) - our youth organisation, all organisations will be involved. God forbid, of course, these difficult times. We are strategically oriented and building our lives, and people must understand this. Therefore, we must hold the congress with dignity, beautifully," said Alexander Lukashenko.