Have you any plan, Alexander Grigorievich? :: Charter'97 :: News

Belarusian president is one of the most prolific newsmakers on the territory of the ex-URSS. Having dismissed some representatives of the government including premier-minister, he doesn’t seem to calm down. The talks about Alexander Lukashenko’s intentions to prolong his powers for another 10 years flared up again. And they say that there is a plan how to do it. By the way, last week Belarusian president said that he is going to work at his post all the current term without changing anything. And according to his words we can be sure that in the nearest future no political fights would take place in Belarus.

May be this is truth. However the opposition seems not to agree with that. Actually nobody else but the members of opposition boosted the idea about possible extension of president’s powers. They reveal some data of sociological interrogations showing that Lukashenko is not supported by 60-70% of Belarusian civilians.

Opposition members are convinced that the referendum is inevitable. According to “Belorusskaja delovaja gazeta” Lukashenko admitted that himself. During the conference discussing the adoption of Russian ruble in Belarus he said: “ At the referendum citizens can only enlarge the circle of persons to whom they will give the right to be candidate to this high post permitting to occupy it more than 2 terms. But president can be elected only by means of national elections.”

Let’s remind that in 1996 the referendum discussing possible changes in the Constitution was carried out in Belarus. Thanks to that referendum Lukashenko was able to prolong his powers until 2001 and then, according to the main law in the country he went for the second term of the presidency.

If the rumors about the prolongation of powers have any foundations, no doubt that the results of the referendum will be playing into Lukashenko’s hands. But on the other hand all the formalities will be observed won’t they?