MINSK, 28 May (BelTA) – Proposals have been made to give the Belarusian People's Congress a constitutional status of the supreme body of representative democracy of Belarus, Chairman of the Constitutional Committee, Chairman of the Constitutional Court Piotr Miklashevich said at the meeting of the Constitutional Commission in Minsk on 28 May, BelTA has learned.
"Formalizing the status of the Belarusian People's Congress as a constitutional form of democracy in the Constitution is aimed at strengthening the stability of the system of representative democracy of Belarus. It is proposed to formalize the following status of the Belarusian People's Congress: the Belarusian People's Congress is the supreme body of representative democracy in the Republic of Belarus," said Piotr Miklashevich.
The chairman of the Constitutional Court stressed that the Belarusian People's Congress consists of deputies of the House of Representatives and members of the Council of the Republic, representatives of local governments from all regions of the country, representatives of political parties and public associations. The membership of the Belarusian People's Congress is 2,500.
The permanent body of the Belarusian People's Congress is the Presidium. The chairman of the Presidium is elected by members of the Belarusian People's Congress. The National Assembly convenes the Presidium at least once every five years. The chairman or the National Assembly, or at least 150,000 citizens can call an extraordinary Belarusian People's Congress. Decisions of the National Assembly are binding for all government agencies, organizations and citizens.
The Belarusian People's Congress, as the supreme body of representative democracy of Belarus, should be vested with the most important state powers. In this regard, it is proposed that the following powers be enshrined in the Constitution. The Belarusian People's Congress shall shape the strategy of development of society and the state, including the most important areas of domestic and foreign policy, approve the program of social and economic development of the Republic of Belarus, determine measures to ensure civil harmony, social and political stability in society. If necessary it shall hear the reports of the president, the prime minister and other state authorities, and guarantee the continuity and stability of the governance system. It is also proposed to give it the right to assess the validity of presidential elections and to impeach the president.
"Thus, formalizing the status, powers and order of formation of the Belarusian National Congress in the Constitution will further strengthen the democratic principles of the state, facilitate the development of people's representation and the implementation of the constitutional principle of democracy," Piotr Miklashevich added.
The Constitutional Commission held its fifth meeting on 28 May. The commission considered issues related to the constitutional status of the Belarusian People's Congress and the constitutional provisions on the local government and self-government system.
