Opinions & Interviews

Kochanova gives her take on new Belarus Constitution draft

An archive photo

MINSK, 23 December (BelTA) – The new Belarus Constitution draft that will be put out for a nationwide discussion one of these days is about people’s power, Chairperson of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly Natalya Kochanova told reporters, BelTA has learned.

“In my opinion, the Constitution draft turned out to be quite good. We have always said that our current Constitution is one of the best in the world. It's true. Everyone admits it. Indeed, this Constitution is aimed primarily at serving our people,” Natalya Kochanova said.

She noted that she happened to work both in the Constitutional Commission and in the working group on finalizing the Constitution draft. “Of course, we tried to make sure that this draft preserves the best of the current Constitution, including the principles of people’s power and a welfare state,” Natalya Kochanova said.

Giving a constitutional status to the Belarusian People's Congress means the integration of another pillar of people's power into the current vertical of power.

According to Natalya Kochanova, the new Belarus Constitution draft will be submitted for national discussion next week. "I would like everyone to understand that our society will live and develop by this fundamental law in the future. Of course, this requires a very responsible attitude. I would very much like our citizens to take an active part in the discussion of this Constitution draft," she said.

The speaker of the upper house stressed that the draft aims to preserve a strong prosperous Belarus: "Everything is aimed at keeping our country stable, sovereign, and independent. This is above all," Natalya Kochanova emphasized.

She advised to assess everything that is happening in the world and also the situation around Belarus while studying the Constitution draft. “This should be the basis. After reading the fundamental provisions of the Constitution (it is a small document and it is easy to grasp), everyone will see what awaits our country in the future. Those times when one could think that there was someone to think for them, to decide for them are gone. Now is the time when everyone should understand their responsibility for the future of their country, their children,” the chairwoman of the Council of the Republic said.

“Peace and stability are what this Constitution implies,” Natalya Kochanova added.

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