Opinions & Interviews

Lukashenko: Belarus’ handling of constitutional reform is unique

MINSK, 18 January (BelTA) – Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko has explained what he was guided by in the work on the constitutional amendments, BelTA has learned.

“My concept was that the Constitutional Court should be at the heart of the effort to amend the Constitution, because the Constitutional Court has the best experts in this field (these are members of the Constitutional Court, judges and other related specialists). I am not saying this to offend anyone. The Constitutional Court experts were enhanced by our specialists, including parliamentarians, chairs of commissions. These people also boast the highest level of expertise. The same can be said about people working in the executive branch, the Belarus President Administration. These seasoned professionals were at the top tier of the effort,” the head of state said.

“Moreover, we put together a working group comprising some mature professionals who can analyze things and offer their expert opinion. We also set up the Constitutional Commission. It is a diverse group incorporating people from all walks of life, including veterans and the youth. What can we be blamed for? Nothing,” the Belarusian leader stressed.

Later on, the new Constitution draft was presented to the public. The nationwide discussion was designed to make this process absolutely democratic. “We invited people to contribute their views, to criticize, to speak up. We received more than 7,000 suggestions and remarks - from completely ridiculous to meaningful. And this group of specialists ‘digested’ all this, and today we had to make some additions to the Constitution draft. And that’s not all. The final version of the Constitution draft will be submitted by the president to a referendum,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

“This process is demanding and serious. Our political scientists are right to say that no other country of the world has ever done anything like that and is unlikely to ever do it, even our fraternal Russia. Drawing on Russia’s experience we have made this process more inclusive and asked the public about their vision of the new Constitution,” the Belarusian leader added.

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