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Мнение. «Мифология Беларуси» о сути готовящейся конституции
The Telegram channel «Mythology of Belarus» analyzes Lukashenka’s statements about the new Constitution.
Yesterday, while discussing the new «Constitution», Lukashenka uttered a sacramental phrase: «I think the All-Belarusian People’s Assembly should be given the authority to amend the Constitution. Lawmaking is a serious thing. And, perhaps, having formed the Constitution at the referendum, we should still be given a right to make changes and additions to the All-Belarusian People’s Assembly».
What exactly happened was predicted by our July post «Three main conclusions on the draft of the new constitution«: «From the point of view of a full-fledged dynastic transit, the draft version of the constitution leaves an understatement. There is a lack of political scene in two acts that would allow for adjustments, namely:
- Increase the duration of presidential terms from 5 years to 6-7, and not to increase, but to reduce the age limit for the presidency (30 years instead of 40);
- Or give the All-Belarusian People’s Assembly the right to change not only the secondary, but also the main articles of the Constitution without holding a referendum».
The fact is that the 4th section of the Constitution about the president refers to the main ones, and they can be changed only during a referendum according to the current constitution.
Since Lukashenka at the moment doesn’t dare to reduce the age limit for the presidency (say, up to 30 years), so as not to make even the most holy and naive residents of Belarus too happy with his far-reaching plans, the only alternative move is to give the All-Belarusian People’s Assembly the right at any time to change any sections of the Constitution at a later stage.
At the same time, the zeroing of the countdown of presidential terms and the increase in their duration from 5 to 6-7 years also remain as very likely innovations.
In addition, Lukashenka yesterday «admitted» that in the future he could take the post of chairman of the All-Belarusian People’s Assembly. This doesn’t need a separate comment at all and became clear a year ago: Lukashenka establishes the post of head of the Presidium of the All-Belarusian People’s Assembly in order to stand above the entire political system as in the Central Asian despotisms.
In total, the definition of the Belarusian political regime as sultanist in the classification of political scientists Stepan-Linz gives clues to all the main questions regarding constitutional dances.
