Year of People’s Unity

Lukashenko explains why there will be no day-off on 17 September

MINSK, 9 August (BelTA) – Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko explained why there will be no day-off on 17 September when the new national holiday – People’s Unity Day – will be celebrated He made the statement at the Big Conversation with the President, a meeting with the public, experts and media community in the format of a big press conference in Minsk on 9 August, BelTA has learned.

“In accordance with the Constitution, the president makes decisions on holidays and days-off. But let’s be honest: I have been to many countries, and none of them has as many holidays as we have. It is the same in Russia when you celebrate New Year, for example,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

Speaking about People’s Unity Day, the president remarked that when he decided to institute this holiday he was thinking whether we should turn it into a day-off. A decision was made that 17 September will be a workday. “As a person from the production sector who is used to working hard without days-off, I, probably, was a little bit greedy,” the head of state noted.

At the same time, the president said that this remains an open question. “I am ready to hand over these powers to the legislative branch, and they will announce holidays,” he said. “This question has not been closed yet, it can be revised any time. But let’s begin with that.”

The president is convinced that it was a fair decision to institute People’s Unity Day on 17 September. This date can be considered the day of the reunion for the Belarusian nation. “Therefore, do not criticize us. This is a true holiday. Our country would have been non-existent without this holiday. This is a sacred holiday for us,” the head of state stressed.

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