MINSK, 18 January (BelTA) – The Belarusian People's Congress ensures the inviolability of the constitutional order, the continuity of generations and civil harmony, Chairman of the Supreme Court Valentin Sukalo told the ONT TV channel commenting on proposed amendments to the Constitution of Belarus, BelTA informs.
The above-mentioned amendments seek to consolidate in the Constitution the status and powers of the Belarusian People's Congress as a body of people's power.
“Some say that this additional representative body is not needed as its powers overlap with powers of the parliament. I disagree with it and believe that only people, as a source of power, should determine the number of their representative bodies, their functions and powers,” Valentin Sukalo said.
He noted that the proposed amendments to the Constitution offer a definitive description of the Belarusian People's Congress, its responsibilities, powers and tasks. “These amendments will fill the void. The responsibilities of the Belarusian People's Congress do not overlap with those of the parliament. The Belarusian People's Congress is not a legislature. But it will outline and approve the development strategy for our society and state. It ensures the inviolability of the constitutional order, the continuity of generations and civil harmony,” the chairman of the Supreme Court noted.
The Belarusian People's Congress is endowed with some rather big powers, but they are needed to make serious decisions, he believes.
Valentin Sukalo noted that this body differs from the parliament, because it brings together 1,200 people, which makes it more representative than the parliament. This makes the Belarusian People's Congress the top representative body of people's power compared to other representative bodies. “Therefore, it would be wrong to say that this body duplicates or replaces other bodies. The Belarusian People's Congress is an independent body of people's power that is on top of the entire system of people's power in our country,” Valentin Sukalo concluded.
