Changes to Belarusian Constitution may extend leader's rule

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FILE - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko attends a gathering with apical level subject officials successful Minsk, Belarus, connected Nov. 22, 2021. A quality rights radical successful Belarus says authorities person raided the homes of dozens of journalists and activists. The Viasna quality rights halfway reported that autarkic journalists, quality rights advocates and activists successful astatine slightest 9 ample Belarusian cities had phones and computers seized during the searches and were interrogated. (Andrei Stasevich/BelTA Pool Photo via AP, File) (Andrei Stasevich, BelTA)

KYIV – Belarus' authorities connected Monday released a draught papers proposing amendments to the country's constitution that whitethorn let authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko to further cement his grip connected powerfulness aft months of wide protests and stay successful bureau until 2035.

The projected amendments are published connected the president's authoritative website and the website of the authorities quality bureau Belta, and Belarusians are encouraged to taxable their comments, suggestions and opinions astir the changes.

The amendments bring backmost limits connected statesmanlike presumption that had been abolished during Lukashenko's tenure, allowing a president lone 2 five-year presumption successful office. The restriction, however, volition lone instrumentality effect erstwhile a “newly elected president” assumes office, which gives Lukashenko an accidental to tally for 2 much presumption aft his existent word expires successful 2025.

“Lukashenko opened a way to the presidency for himself until astatine slightest 2035, erstwhile helium volition beryllium 81 years old,” autarkic governmental expert Valery Karbalevich told The Associated Press.

Other changes to the constitution see extending the parliament's word from 4 years to five, introducing the All-Belarus People's Assembly arsenic a caller assemblage to run successful parallel with the parliament and granting erstwhile presidents immunity from prosecution implicit actions they took portion successful office.

The amendments volition beryllium up for a referendum, scheduled for February 2022. They volition beryllium considered approved if much than 50% ballot for them, with a turnout threshold astatine 50%.

During his 27 years starring the erstwhile Soviet republic with an robust fist, Lukashenko has held 3 referendums, abolishing limits connected statesmanlike terms, amending the constitution and bringing backmost Soviet-looking authorities symbols.

Belarus was rocked by months of unprecedented wide protests aft Lukashenko was awarded a sixth consecutive word successful bureau successful the August 2020 statesmanlike vote, which the absorption and the West denounced arsenic a sham. He responded to the demonstrations with a brutal crackdown that saw much than 35,000 radical arrested, thousands beaten by constabulary and galore forced to question refuge abroad.

The projected law changes were being drafted during the turmoil, erstwhile Lukashenko realized “that helium mislaid the enactment of the bulk of the country's municipality population,” Karbalevich pointed out. The caller governing assemblage — the All-Belarus People's Assembly — was designed arsenic a backup program for the authoritarian person if helium is forced to measurement down arsenic president, the expert said.

According to the projected amendments, a sitting president automatically becomes a delegate of the 1,200-seat Assembly and whitethorn seat it, if elected by different delegates. The caller projected assemblage is expected to conscionable astatine slightest erstwhile a twelvemonth and volition beryllium empowered to acceptable argumentation directives, draught laws, suggest law changes, elite members of the country's Central Election Commission and judges of the country's highest courts.

The Assembly tin besides green-light deploying Belarusian troops overseas if projected by the president, and oust the president if the person is recovered to beryllium successful usurpation of the constitution oregon to person committed precocious treason oregon different large crime.

“Lukashenko designed the All-Belarus Assembly for himself arsenic a backup airfield successful lawsuit of stepping down arsenic president," Karbalevich said. But the request for that dissipated arsenic the protests were suppressed and Russia, Belarus' almighty ally, formed its enactment down Lukashenko.

"So successful the projected amendments we spot a hybrid — some the accidental to get reelected arsenic president until 2035, and the accidental to stay successful powerfulness arsenic a imaginable person of the All-Belarus Assembly,” the expert said.

The amendments besides scrap clauses astir Belarus' “neutrality” and “non-nuclear status." Last month, Lukashenko offered to big Russia's atomic weapons if NATO moves U.S. atomic bombs from Germany to Eastern Europe, the latest successful a bid of steps aimed astatine cementing ties with Moscow.

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