MINSK, 9 August (BelTA) – Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko commented on a possibility to take charge of the Belarusian People's Congress amidst the proposals to give it a constitutional status. The president shared his views on this matter 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.
Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that he himself had actually talked about the idea of granting constitutional status to the Belarusian People's Congress. “I said this openly, honestly, though I understood that they would immediately link me to the Belarusian People's Congress. But if you think of it this way, pray to God that I would agree to chair the Belarusian People's Congress,” he said.
“I am strongly convinced that the most important thing going on in Belarus now is the change of generations. My generation is leaving. An active new generation is coming. We need to maintain a balance. The new generation should not sideline the older generation. Their experience will always be useful,” the president said.
He clarified that when saying ‘the new generation of statesmen” he does not mean age, but mindset and way of thinking. ‘In terms of control, consistent strategy-setting' the older generation can share their experience as members of the Belarusian People's Congress.
“At the same time, it is important not to allow dual power in the country. The Belarusian People's Congress will be led by the presidium or chairman and it should not dominate the government and the president,” the head of state emphasized.
He also explained why the issue of updating the basic law of the country is so important right now. “We can't pass this Constitution, which is really very authoritarian, to the next president. Because we don't know who he will be or how he will act. That was how it all started: we need a new Constitution as a safeguard. Let's imagine they took power with this Constitution in force. No one would have had a chance to fight back. Therefore, it is necessary to balance things out and transfer part of strategic powers to the Belarusian People's Congress,” Aleksandr Lukashenko explained.
He also believes that certain personnel functions may be transferred to the Belarusian People's Congress, not even its presidium but the congress itself. “We always say that the courts should be independent. That is right! Independent, however, should not mean that they see no one and report to no one. Perhaps the Constitutional Court will be formed by the Belarusian People's Congress,” the head of state suggested.
The president said that he was thinking about what the Belarusian People's Congress would be doing. For example, it may determine the strategy for the future, be in charge of some big issues. Perhaps, it will be just a temporary measure until “everything calms down in the country”.
“The question is what functions the Belarusian People's Congress will be vested with. I don't know yet. I am sure that we will find the powers to delegate there. We will do it solely in the interests of the Belarusian state, to prevent the state from collapsing when I leave the post of the president,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
