Today and tomorrow a truly historic event will take place at the Palace of the Republic: the second session of the 7th Belarusian People’s Congress (BPC). Following the republican referendum held on 27 February 2022, the Belarusian People’s Congress acquired constitutional status, and its decisions are binding. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko will address the nation and the parliament with a message, and one of the main items on the agenda will be the approval of the social and economic development program for the next five-year term, a document that will determine the country’s future for years to come. In addition, delegates of the Belarusian People’s Congress will consider personnel matters and other matters during the session. We talked about challenges of our time, the strength of the Belarusian people, and the significance of the decisions to be made in the coming days with Aleksei Avdonin, Chairman of the Board of the republican state public association Belarusian Society Znanie.
A powerful tool for the development of the state
The history of the Belarusian People’s Congress began in October 1996. At that time, workers and farmers, university students and pensioners, enterprise managers and representatives of government agencies attended the first Belarusian People’s Congress. Almost 5,000 people gathered at the Palace of Sports in the capital city, and before that thousands of meetings had been held throughout the country, attracting about 2.5 million citizens. The Belarusian People’s Congress was held in this format in 1996, 2001, 2006, 2010, 2016, and 2021.
At the sixth Belarusian People’s Congress, upon the suggestion of the head of state a constitutional reform was launched. Large-scale work began on preparing amendments and additions to the Basic Law. A Constitutional Commission was created to develop them. The commission included representatives of government agencies, law science, public associations, various branches of the economy, and the social sphere. The draft amendments and additions to the Constitution were widely discussed, and the fourth republican referendum in the history of sovereign Belarus was held on 27 February 2022. The constitutional amendments were supported by more than 80% of the Belarusians who took part in the nationwide poll, and the Belarusian People’s Congress became the highest representative body of people’s power. The first session of the 7th Belarusian People’s Congress held on 24-25 April 2024 in its new constitutional status was historic in every sense! About 2,000 people participated in the event. On the first day the delegates made personnel management decisions, including the election of the leadership, and on the second day they discussed and approved the National Security Concept and the Military Doctrine of the Republic of Belarus.
The current second session of the 7th Belarusian People’s Congress has been convened for the first time by order of the chairman of the Belarusian People’s Congress. Today, on 18 December Aleksandr Lukashenko’s address to the Belarusian people and the parliament will be heard while the approval of the program on Belarus’ social and economic development in 2026-2030 is scheduled for tomorrow, 19 December. It will be presented by Prime Minister Aleksandr Turchin, who will also report on the implementation of the previous five-year program.
Accountable to the entire country
The constitutional status has significantly expanded the powers of the Belarusian People’s Congress. The issues brought up for discussion now have the status of law, which means they are binding. It primarily applies to the approval of the program on Belarus’ social and economic development in 2026-2030, as delegates from across the country effectively express the nation’s support for how our state will develop over the next five years. This is extremely important, Aleksei Avdonin is convinced, because in this way we, Belarusians, are in fact all together responsible for the country’s development, for its social and economic, political, and military components.
For the first time the security of the state and the society has been identified as a priority in the social and economic development program. It is quite understandable: it is impossible to develop the economy in a state of chaos.
“This is why security is one of the key conditions for the development of the society, the economy, and the state,” noted Aleksei Avdonin. “The president has clearly stated that this program will become law for further work. It will be submitted annually to the Supreme State Council so that its implementation could be monitored and responsibility could be carried essentially before the entire country.” This administration approach means that both civil servants and government agencies are directly accountable to citizens through the Belarusian People’s Congress. This approach stimulates, motivates, and ensures a deep connection between the people and the system of government, thereby guaranteeing the highest form of democracy.
The Belarusian People’s Congress has brought together delegates from different regions: some of them live in large cities, others came to the capital city from small villages and towns. But they all have a common task ahead of them: to make decisions that will determine the future of the country. The fact that the delegates represent the entire cross-section of the society is extremely important, Aleksei Avdonin believes.
“We are not creating some kind of elite group in the form of Belarusian People’s Congress delegates, consisting exclusively of government officials, politicians, or corporate elites who will decide the fate of the nation. We have a completely different approach. The delegates represent all of Belarus. They are people of different ages and professions. This eliminates any imbalances in the system of governance and in the development of an advanced system of popular sovereignty,” he said.
Belarus is ahead of its time
It is no coincidence that the Belarusian People’s Congress is called a unique element of people’s power. In what other country can ordinary citizens participate in the formation of the state’s strategic policy?
“Over the past 30 years corporate elites around the world have usurped power. It was all done under the banner of democracy and neoliberalism. They talked about the need for more freedoms and rights. But first and foremost, these were needed by large corporations and banks and their owners,” Aleksei Avdonin believes. “This is essentially a modified form of usurpation of power by big capital. In our country, as we can clearly see, there is no power of oligarchs and capital, but there is a strict, well-structured system of people’s power. This is extremely important in the context of the transformation of the global economy and competition between large corporations and banks for market share, sales, and raw materials. In this competition ordinary people are the most disadvantaged, state budgets are being cut, and money is being directed towards militarization. And war is an attempt by large corporations and banks to get their hands on the state budget.”
The main priorities of the state budget in Belarus are social orientation and improving the well-being of the people. Hospitals, schools, and kindergartens are being built, and wages, pensions, and benefits are on the rise. This speaks louder than any words about the fact that the people’s power model chosen by the state, within which the social and economic development program is being implemented, is a phenomenon.
“It can be said that Belarus is ahead of its time because the system of the rule of the people will inevitably defeat the dominance of capital, since it is the people who are the source of power. And Belarus actually shows everyone how a system of popular sovereignty should be built in the modern world,” Aleksei Avdonin is convinced.
According to the expert, over the past five years the global economy has undergone extremely difficult restructuring amid lockdowns and the coronavirus pandemic, and global politics has seen an escalation of conflicts and growing contradictions, including serious armed conflicts in Europe. But Belarus has come through this period calmly, without wars on our territory, without economic and financial collapse. Moreover, we have been able to strengthen our economic and financial sovereignty. The population trusts the Belarusian ruble, the exchange rate is stable, bank deposits and the purchasing power are on the rise. Unlike countries of the collective West, we do not see any social and economic shocks in the form of unemployment spikes or inflation spikes.
“Over the past five years Belarus has strengthened its statehood as well as its economic, technological, informational, and financial sovereignty. And so we can now say with confidence that the future that was shaped within the framework of the previous social and economic development program has been fully realized. We are in an excellent position to continue securing the growth of household incomes and the overall well-being of our citizens.”
Like all Belarusians Aleksei Avdonin looks forward to hearing the speech by the head of state. It will define not only the directions of Belarus’ social and economic development but also our country’s position in the rather unstable conditions in Eastern Europe.
“We all want to understand clearly what will happen in our region: whether we can expect peace in Eastern Europe and whether we will be able to continue building good-neighborly relations despite all the provocations,” the expert outlined the range of issues. “Everyone hopes for peace and order.”
Building on current accomplishments
Delegates from all regions of Belarus are participating in the second session of the 7th Belarusian People’s Congress to discuss important state matters and adopt the country’s five-year social and economic development program. Everyone understands the degree of responsibility placed on them because the future of the state will depend on their decisions.
Yulia Belyankina, Head Physician of the Minsk Clinical Consultative and Diagnostic Center:
We have actively discussed the draft program on social and economic development for the next five years with the staff of the consultative and diagnostic center and with other medical colleagues. This document is based on seven carefully worked out priorities. It is very important that the first one is national demographic security: preserving the population, improving health, and supporting families.
The healthcare system has set several goals for the coming years. These include reducing the overall mortality rate, increasing life expectancy, and increasing the birth rate. The program also provides for increased investment in healthcare. For example, a single radiology center will be established in Minsk. It will bring together radiologists from all outpatient and polyclinic institutions. This step will not only improve the accessibility of medical care, but also enable doctors to consult with more experienced colleagues as quickly as possible.
Another important facility is an infectious diseases hospital, which is already under construction in the capital city. The one currently in operation was built over a century ago and no longer meets all the standards for providing medical care. The new complex will be one of the most advanced ones in the country. It is being built in accordance with modern sanitary and epidemiological requirements and the buildings will be completely isolated from each other. A polyclinic for the Minsk cancer center is also under construction. Since cancer is the second leading cause of death after cardiovascular pathologies, this area receives a lot of attention in our country.
As a doctor and a mother, I also hope that in the near future, women in our country will be given a second free attempt at in vitro fertilization. There are quite many couples in Belarus, who dream of becoming parents, and affordable IVF is a much-needed measure to support such citizens.
Ruslan Makhmudov, Lead Environmental Protection Engineer at OAO Verkhnedvinsk Butter and Cheese Plant:
The main principle of the social and economic development program for the next five years is to preserve, develop, and multiply what we, Belarusians, have already achieved. And we have achieved a lot! While the global food market is in a difficult situation, our country is fully self-sufficient and ready to lend a helping hand to our neighbors if necessary. When we go shopping, we all see a huge assortment of products for every taste and budget. And it doesn’t matter whether it’s a large hypermarket or a small retail outlet in a village. There is always a choice!
I am proud to note that Belarus has become a top 10 exporter of dairy products thanks in part to the construction of modern high-tech dairy complexes. Our company, OAO Verkhnedvinsk Butter and Cheese Plant, occupies a leading position in the country’s dairy market. In January-September 2025, industrial output amounted to 126.3% in comparison to last year, with the overall sales profitability at 16.2%. This is the best indicator among dairy enterprises in Vitebsk Oblast and the fourth best in the country.
Our main achievement is improving the well-being of our citizens. The unemployment rate in Belarus is not only significantly lower than in a number of developed countries, but it also decreases every year. Housing for those in need is being actively built, and new buildings are appearing in our Verkhnedvinsk District. Pension payments remain stable, and non-working pensioners enjoy a number of benefits and tax breaks. It applies to transport, trade, and many other areas. And we, the younger generation, can rest assured about our future because every Belarusian is confident that the state will take care of those who have worked honestly and in good faith when they get old. It was in Belarus that the world’s largest haul truck has been created. Our agricultural machines are known in hundreds of countries. The batch production of BelGee cars has been established... We, Belarusians, can rightfully be proud of all that!
Olga Antonenko, Chairwoman of the Gorani Rural Council of Deputies:
I was really looking forward to the second session of the 7th Belarusian People’s Congress and actively prepared for it. Meetings to discuss the social and economic development program for 2026-2030 have been held at the oblast level and district levels, and details of the document have also been discussed in worker collectives. Residents of the Gorani Rural Council area were also actively interested in it. I answered all questions in as much detail as possible because it is important for people to know how our country will develop in the coming years.
The program for the new five-year period was created bearing in mind the demands of the society. It summarizes the work done over the previous five years. It is very important that experts have worked on each of the seven priorities, that all the provisions are based on fundamental research of the society and fully meet its demands. Three of the seven priorities of the program are related to social matters because people in urban areas and the countryside need the same things: comfortable housing, stable jobs, decent wages, opportunities to play sports, and interesting and useful ways to spend their free time. All of it is reflected by the document. The rural council also does everything possible to improve people’s lives. Modern playgrounds have appeared in population centers, hundreds of trees and shrubs have been planted, new flower beds and small architectural forms have been created. Roads have been actively repaired, bus stops have been installed, and street lighting has been improved. We are eagerly awaiting the opening of an equestrian club, which is being built in the village of Dulichi.
Every figure in the program represents a specific task. And in order to achieve them, Belarusians need to start working from the first days of 2026. Only in this case will we get the result we are counting on.
Aleksandr Skorina, Deputy Director for Ideological Work, Social Development, and Personnel Management at OAO Minsk Gear Works:
Over the past five years, Belarus has achieved a great deal. Strategic steps have been taken that have determined not only our present but also our future for years to come. The whole country worked on amending the Constitution and the Electoral Code, held a republican referendum, elected deputies, approved the National Security Concept the and Military Doctrine, celebrated the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory, and on 26 January 2025 elected the president of the Republic of Belarus. And now we are taking another big step forward by adopting the program on social and economic development of the country for the next five years at the second session of the 7th Belarusian People’s Congress. In my opinion, it is extremely important that the opinions, suggestions, and comments of all citizens have been heard and taken into account when creating this document. There were also lively discussions in worker collectives, and our enterprise was no exception.
The program for the next five-year term defines tens of large-scale investment projects. And I am proud to note that one of them is being implemented at our plant. We are talking about the production of 5-7th grade precision gear shafts for Belarusian and Russian industrial enterprises. This is an import substitution project and the countries invest heavily in us. Without a doubt it will result in decent wages, the ability to operate new unique equipment and, accordingly, enjoy improved working conditions. This is a significant step in the history of the plant, and our entire team is very proud to have been entrusted with such a responsible mission.
Irina Gorbatsevich, computer science teacher at the state educational institution “Gymnasium No.1 named after the defenders of the Brest Fortress”:
Before the first session of the 7th Belarusian People’s Congress, while studying the National Security Concept and the Military Doctrine, I was worried that these topics were completely foreign to me, an ordinary teacher. But when I listened to speeches of the head of state, the defense minister, and the chairman of the State Security Committee, I was genuinely impressed by their sincerity and openness. They spoke simply and clearly about the matters that concern everyone: our security, the situation in the international arena, and the conditions in which Belarus will develop. As a daughter of an officer and the mother of a son who is currently serving in the army, I was moved by every word they said. But what impressed me most was the slogan “Time has chosen us”. My youth was a time of shortages and ration cards, and this is why I understand better than anyone that we have never lived as well as we do now. But I also see that our internal potential is great and has not been fully realized! Specific steps are outlined in the social and economic development program, which we, the delegates, are expected to approve.
The document pays great attention to patriotic education and to the implementation of the youth policy. As a school teacher I see how this works from the inside. It is not only about financial support for young people, although that is certainly important. By becoming winners of competitions and recipients of awards from the oblast administration and the president’s special fund, young people first and foremost gain confidence and inspiration, they understand that they are valued and loved in their country. Since 1972 our students have been posted on the Memory Watch at the Brest Fortress. And when the gymnasium was named after the defenders of the Brest Fortress in the Year of Historical Memory, this event was a source of great joy for everyone. In September 2024 a renovated museum was opened in addition to the first class in the oblast with focus on law “Young Prosecutor”. Without exception every student is proud to study here and understands what this entails.
As a mother of two sons, I know that young professionals in our country receive genuine help with employment and housing construction. As a grandmother of two granddaughters I understand what wonderful support is provided to young families. And as a teacher I feel immense joy when graduates, when asked about their future, say that they want to study and work in Belarus. Our children know that they are needed by their country and that there is no better place than home. If every Belarusian puts their energy into creation, we will amaze the whole world with our achievements!
Vitaly Chernookiy, Deputy Director of the Bus Depot No.5 branch of KTUP Minsktrans:
I am a transport worker. This is why, when studying the draft social and economic development program for the next five years, I first looked at how this economy branch would develop. For me, the main priority is safety. In recent years, our country has felt strong pressure from sanctions, but such challenges have only prompted Belarus to engage more actively in import substitution and create new domestic manufacturing facilities. This process will continue in the next five years.
We can be proud of our safe and high-quality roads. The state allocates significant funding for their maintenance and will continue to do so. As for public transport, the main goal for the coming years is to assemble it from domestically made parts as much as possible. This way we will not depend on any external conditions. It would be good if the country also created a separate structure that could regularly inspect vehicles manufactured by factories and give them an independent assessment.
It is important for us to continue developing electric transport, improving the quality of vehicle assembly, and improving the necessary infrastructure. Today the share of electric transport (trolleybuses, electric buses, trams) in the total volume of urban passenger traffic in Minsk is about 50%, and this figure needs to be increased. Science plays an important role in this regard, as it should be more actively involved in the implementation of transport projects and should put forward new ideas that manufacturers can bring to life at Belarusian factories. We now have a lot of talented young people who can offer something new in various fields. After all, it is much easier to cope with the challenges that arise when solving modern transport problems together. We have a lot to be proud of, but we should not stop there.
The 2030 PROGRAM
The country’s social and economic development program for the next five years is a systemic document. It is based on seven key priorities:
- national demographic security: preserving the population, strengthening the health of the nation, and supporting families;
- development of human potential, quality education, and the nurture of harmonious and patriotic individuals;
- creation of a high-quality and comfortable living environment;
- increasing the competitive ability, accelerating technological development, and digital transformation;
- strong regions;
- strengthening the state’s defense capabilities and developing the defense sector of the economy;
- realization of the tourism potential.
Each priority is filled with specific tasks for its achievement.
By Yulia GAVRILENKO.
Photos by Andrei SINYAVSKY, Violetta YUZHAKOVA, and from public sources on the Internet, the 7 Dnei newspaper.
Follow us on:
