{"id":70943,"date":"2024-03-04T12:51:49","date_gmt":"2024-03-04T09:51:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/longreads\/70943\/"},"modified":"2024-03-04T12:51:51","modified_gmt":"2024-03-04T09:51:51","slug":"lukasenka-learns-from-mistakes-launches-presidential-campaign-early","status":"publish","type":"longreads","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/longreads\/70943\/","title":{"rendered":"\u0141uka\u0161enka learns from mistakes, launches presidential campaign early"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Officials seemed to be in disarray. Suspecting that Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka could retire, they were thinking about their future and looking around for a new master. To put an end to all sorts of backroom wheeling and dealing, the Belarusian leader has announced that he will stay and nothing will change.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n \"\"\n
\n \n
\n (Belarusian leader's press office)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u0141uka\u0161enka: \u201cI will run\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The February 20-25 local and parliamentary elections were primarily notable for \u0141uka\u0161enka’s announcement of his presidential bid about 18 months before the race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTell them [opponents] that I will run!\u201d his press office quoted him as saying at a polling station after voting in the parliamentary and local elections on February 25.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA responsible president will not abandon his people who followed him into a battle. . . .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe more they stress you, me and society out, the sooner I decide to run in the elections. And no one will give or present power to anyone.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was probably the first time he declared his bid so early.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the past, when answering journalists’ questions about his intentions for presidential elections, he used to make a long pause and say nothing definite. He would usually say, we’ll see, there’s a lot of time ahead, I’m not thinking about it yet, because there’s a lot of work and if people ask, then maybe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Renegading on promise not to run again<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u0141uka\u0161enka has repeatedly promised not to run again. For example, in his closing speech at the All-Belarusian People’s Assembly in February 2021, he assured those present, speaking of the next president, “It won’t be me! Someone else will be the head of state.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On August 9, at a news conference on the first anniversary of the presidential election, he told journalists that he would leave his post soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In preparation for departure, he changed the constitution to give the chair of the All-Belarusian People’s Assembly more powers at the expense of the president and parliament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some officials might be expecting, until recently, that he would leave soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Belarusian strongman was inspired by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to seek another term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u0141uka\u0161enka has always tried to secure Moscow’s support in the run-up to presidential elections. He conducted tough negotiations with Putin always demanding some concessions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If Putin had stood down, \u0141uka\u0161enka’s bid would have been a challenge to the Kremlin. He would have outlived Boris Yeltsin, Dmitry Medvedev and Putin, a kind of disrespect for the big brother.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now that Putin wants to be president for life, \u0141uka\u0161enka has overcome the last psychological obstacle and wants to reign until his death too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Backroom anxiety<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u0141uka\u0161enka felt that some officials were hesitant as rumors spread about his poor health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For almost 30 years, he cast himself as a physically fit man, playing ice hockey, winning ski races, mowing grass with Gerard Depardieu, chopping firewood, dancing with beautiful women and beating everyone both in sports and politics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He is no longer young, not particularly healthy and still psychologically traumatized by the 2020 postelection protests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Realizing it, officials were thinking about the future, and some were even looking around for a new master.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u0141uka\u0161enka could end up a lame duck, a ruler serving out his last months in power. For him, those hesitations were very dangerous because his cronies could eventually get out of control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sensing this, \u0141uka\u0161enka decided to stop all backroom rumors by reassuring officials that nothing will change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He has worked through his mistakes and drew conclusions from the 2020 elections. It was his blunder not to campaign at all and rely on the powers of the administrative state in his disposal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He has decided to start his campaign as early as possible after the dress rehearsal in the local and parliamentary elections.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Officials seemed to be in disarray. Suspecting that Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka could retire, they were thinking about their future and looking around for a new master. To put an end to all sorts of backroom wheeling and dealing, the Belarusian leader has announced that he will stay and nothing will change. \u0141uka\u0161enka: \u201cI will run\u201d The […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":70462,"template":"","rubric":[22],"class_list":["post-70943","longreads","type-longreads","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","rubric-theviewer"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\u0141uka\u0161enka learns from mistakes, launches presidential campaign early | Pozirk<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Officials seemed to be in disarray. 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