Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 25 October (BelTA) – Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko urged the government to take decisions by consensus as he heard out a report by First Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Turchin on 25 October, BelTA has learned.

“When we reshuffled the Cabinet, we agreed that you would come to grips with the functions of the office of the government and its structure. I asked you to take care of this matter, as you had chaired the office of the government. You are the one to rectify the situation now taking into account possible mistakes and loose ends in the work of the government in the past. I would like to know your opinion on a number of issues,” Alexander Lukashenko noted.

The president recalled that the government is a collegial body. Decisions are taken collectively and this rule should be strictly observed. “Therefore I give so much attention to the way the government operates,” he emphasized.

Alexander Lukashenko noted that he is getting some signals that the government focuses more on strategy rather than daily routine. “The government’s main mission is not about strategy. This is not your prerogative. The strategy has already been developed; it is determined by the president, proposed for voting during presidential elections and passed by the Belarusian People’s Congress. Some minor changes are possible; no one forbids the government to put forward some amendments. However, the decision is made by the president,” the head of state noted.

The Belarusian government has always been in charge of the real economic sector, the president emphasized. “Therefore, you have to monitor everything on-site – to inspect field works during planting and harvesting campaigns, tour production floors, deal with technology. We do not need the government that will sit in their offices and work on some strategy losing touch with reality,” the president said.