Lukashenko wants faster progress on bringing laws into line with Constitution

MINSK, 31 March (BelTA) – The MPs should fast-track their work to bring the country's legislation into line with the amended Constitution, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he delivered his annual Address to the Belarusian people and the National Assembly on 31 March, BelTA has learned.

“Using a respite between political campaigns last year, we determined a number of new strategic goals at the constitutional level that were supported by the majority. Moreover, we preserved the continuity of political traditions. This is a crucial achievement in the history of our statehood,” the Belarusian leader noted.

The president thanked everyone who was involved in the discussion of the constitutional amendments and those who took part in the 2022 referendum. “Those were millions. Our history had never known such a consensus,” he emphasized. Tens of thousands of proposals were considered, the best and the most relevant ideas were incorporated into the Constitution,” Aleksandr Lukashenko noted.

However, the work goes beyond the amendments to the text of the Constitution. “A year is left to bring the legislation into line with the amendments. Time is running up quickly,” the president said. “What do we have now as far as lawmaking is concerned? More than half of almost 100 legislative acts have already been discussed in the first reading or have passed the first reading in the parliament,” the head of state informed. Among them are such unique laws as laws “On the Belarusian People's Congress”, “On the foundations of civil society”. The laws on the National Assembly, on the Council of Ministers, on the status of a deputy of the House of Representatives and a member of the Council of the Republic were adjusted in line with the new Constitution.

“We are moving at a good pace. As I know, now about 25 bills are in the works in the parliament. We need to gather pace,” the head of state noted. “You are experienced people, deputies, senators, you are highly professional, reliable. You are quite capable of working ahead of schedule,” the president added.