{"id":11320,"date":"2021-12-31T17:06:56","date_gmt":"2021-12-31T14:06:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/api.pozirk.online\/longreads\/draft-constitution-to-cement-lukasenkas-power\/"},"modified":"2026-02-24T20:29:13","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T20:29:13","slug":"draft-constitution-to-cement-lukasenkas-power","status":"publish","type":"longreads","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/longreads\/11320\/","title":{"rendered":"Draft constitution to cement Luka\u0161enka\u2019s power"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n By Valieryj Karbalievi\u010d<\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\n Belarusian officials have drafted a new constitution to redistribute presidential power between two centers with Aliaksandr Luka\u0161enka looking to take charge of both. The draft has been written to suit the policy of the moment.<\/b>\n<\/p>\n

\n

\n Early presidential election unlikely <\/span>\n<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/h2>\n

\n\t Luka\u0161enka announced constitutional reform when Belarus was swept by protests against his disputed re-election. He initially hoped that a considerably strengthened All-Belarusian People\u2019s Assembly would oversee and ensure a smooth transition of power from him to a successor. He intended to take charge of the assembly to be able to control his successor.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t However, he decided that he would not step down when preparation of the constitution was already work in progress. Based on the draft, he plans to see out his current term that runs until mid-2025.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t Moreover, the two-term limit for presidents would not be introduced until a new president is elected. Therefore, he would be able to stay in power until 2035, theoretically. He may not use the opportunity, but it exists.\n<\/p>\n

New superstructure<\/span> <\/h2>\n

\n\t Luka\u0161enka said that a new constitution had been drafted for a new president. Since he does not plan to resign, the constitutional reform does not make sense. It would be better for him to cancel it or delay until 2025. However, he had launched preparations for a referendum and it would be an embarrassment to cancel it. Besides, he might have made some promises regarding political reform to Vladimir Putin.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t If the draft is approved at the referendum coming up in late February, he would govern for three and a half years under the new constitution. It has been designed to limit presidential power, but it has three mechanisms to ensure that Luka\u0161enka can exercise his unfettered authority in full.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t First, the new constitution takes effect after its official publication. The text can be published one year after the poll.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t Second, authorities would have one year to draft legislation governing the All-Belarusian People\u2019s Assembly. It would also take time to select delegates and hold its first convention. Luka\u0161enka would exercise his power under the old constitution until then.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t The draft also provides that the incumbent can be elected as chairman of the assembly to organize its work.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t Therefore, Luka\u0161enka would keep his powers, but they would be redistributed between two centers with him in charge of both.\n<\/p>\n

Reform reminiscent of late Brezhnev era<\/span> <\/h2>\n

\n\t The cementing of Luka\u0161enka\u2019s power came as a surprise to many observers because he had promised that he would not to hang on to his chair with blue fingers.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t His constitutional reform is reminiscent of Leonid Brezhnev\u2019s approach. The former secretary general of the Soviet Communist Party, with his health failing, also headed the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet (the legislature).\n<\/p>\n

\n\t Luka\u0161enka did promise at the start of his rule to take Belarus back to the Soviet Union. The way he is about to do it is quite ridiculous.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t In other provisions, the constitution will postpone parliamentary and local elections, originally scheduled for 2023, until 2024. After the 2020 election controversy, officials are afraid of holding new ballots.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t One clause was specially designed to make exiled opposition leaders ineligible for the presidency. It says that only those who have lived in Belarus for the last 20 years may run.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t In addition, the draft, if adopted as it stands, would allow authorities to strip opponents of Belarusian citizenship.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t To sum it up, Luka\u0161enka has drafted the constitution for himself. The Belarusians are just silent witnesses to his continuing effort to amass power.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Valieryj Karbalievi\u010d Belarusian officials have drafted a new constitution to redistribute presidential power between two centers with Aliaksandr Luka\u0161enka looking to take charge of both. The draft has been written to suit the policy of the moment. Early presidential election unlikely Luka\u0161enka announced constitutional reform when Belarus was swept by protests against his disputed […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":75,"featured_media":0,"template":"","rubric":[22],"class_list":["post-11320","longreads","type-longreads","status-publish","hentry","rubric-theviewer"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nDraft constitution to cement Luka\u0161enka\u2019s power | Pozirk<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"By Valieryj Karbalievi\u010d Belarusian officials have drafted a new constitution to redistribute presidential power between two centers with Aliaksandr\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/longreads\/11320\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Draft constitution to 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