Lukashenko: Work on preparing amendments to the Constitution has reached the home stretch

The work on preparing amendments to the Constitution has reached the home stretch. This was stated by the President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, today at a joint meeting of the Constitutional Commission and the working group on finalizing the draft Constitution, a BELTA correspondent reports.

"I believe that today we can state the fact that the work on preparing amendments to the Constitution has reached the home stretch. And I want to emphasize this particularly," the head of state noted, opening the meeting.

He recalled that the Constitutional Commission and a specially created working group, which included authoritative experts, professionals in various fields, and simply sensible experienced people, had worked on the draft of the Basic Law. "A lot has been done," the President noted.

While working on the preparation of the new draft Constitution, the Constitutional Commission initially submitted its developed proposals, accumulating, among other things, numerous citizen initiatives. This version was taken as a basis by the working group, which focused its activities on a number of unresolved fundamental issues and tried to formulate what the Constitutional Commission could not. "As a result, it was possible to develop the most important constitutional norms," stated the Belarusian leader. "The status of the All-Belarusian People's Assembly has been enshrined, powers have been redistributed among state authorities, the stability of the state apparatus is guaranteed, as it seems to the working group. Transitional provisions have been formulated. I don't think they are final; there is still work to be done on them, and perhaps even cardinal work."

Alexander Lukashenko drew attention to the fact that the activities of the working group do not draw a line under the work on the Constitution: "Today's event is another step in the development of amendments, and I would ask you to approach the draft that exists today with the utmost care," he said. "You will still have to think it over and make a final decision before submitting this draft to the President."

The Head of State also noted that during the work on the draft Constitution, the opinions of the commission and the working group did not fully coincide. "I believe this is absolutely normal," he said. "As ancient thinkers said, truth is born in disputes. And therefore, the proposals of the Constitutional Commission were further developed after appropriate refinement."

Alexander Lukashenko recalled that he had met with the working group several times: "I did this because it was necessary to discuss sensitive issues. After all, the results of our work will determine what our country will be like in the future."

"The most important changes to the Basic Law are aimed at significantly strengthening the institution of people's power," the Head of State emphasized. "It is for these purposes that the constitutional consolidation of the status of the All-Belarusian People's Congress was conceived. Granting it strategically important powers for the stability of the country. As I have said more than once, the All-Belarusian People's Congress is our 'veche' (popular assembly). I believe that this institution of people's power corresponds to the age-old national way of life of Belarusians."

According to the President, the prepared draft of the Basic Law will soon be submitted for nationwide discussion. At this stage, every citizen will be able to become a participant in the constitutional process. "I think that the members of the Constitutional Commission and the working group should convey to the population the significance of the proposed state innovations," he said.

According to him, sociological studies show that 50-60% of the population are ready to come to the referendum and support the draft Constitution. "But if we work well, publish the draft Constitution, tell people about the innovations, explain again why we are adopting this Constitution, I am confident that people will support us, as it was at the turning point in the mid-1990s," Alexander Lukashenko expressed his confidence.

"Therefore, I would ask you to meet with people – in work collectives, at their places of residence, in public associations. You need to actively speak in the media, talk about the Constitution. In a word, show initiative," the Belarusian leader instructed the participants of the event.

"Citizens must come to the referendum with a clear understanding of the essence of all innovations and the necessity of their adoption," the Head of State emphasized.

Source: belta.by