President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko signed the decision of the republican referendum on amendments and additions to the country’s constitution. According to him, the updated version of the document will come into force on March 15, the day of the Belarusian constitution.
The solemn ceremony was held at the Palace of Independence in Minsk. More than 1 thousand people attended the event. Among them are senior officials, members of the government, representatives of various ministries and departments, the Constitutional and Supreme Courts, as well as delegations from the regions and the city of Minsk, experts and members of the public.
Belarusian authorities published draft new constitution in December 2021. The amendments provide for the transfer of part of the president’s powers to the All-Belarusian People’s Assembly. The head of state will not be able to hold office for more than two terms.
The document contains the following proposals:
- the draft of a new constitution excludes the possibility of military aggression from the territory of the republic;
- The All-Belarusian Assembly will decide whether to allow the president to send the military outside the country;
- The All-Belarusian Assembly will become the highest representative body in Belarus;
- the All-Belarusian Assembly will remove the president of Belarus in case he violates the constitution or commits treason;
- the amendments provide that the same person cannot hold the post of President of the Republic for more than two terms;
- the term of office of the parliament of Belarus is five years, extension is possible only in case of war;
- in the event of the death of the President of Belarus, state bodies act in accordance with the decisions of the Security Council;
- dissolution of parliament is not allowed in the first and last year of office;
- the lower house of parliament will have to give prior approval to the president for the appointment of the prime minister;
- Belarusian and Russian remain the state languages in Belarus.
February 28 CEC of Belarus announced on the adoption of amendments to the constitution following a referendum. According to the CEC, 65.16% of voters voted for the amendments to the constitution. 10.07% of voters opposed.
Read more about why the military operation in Ukraine worried the Belarusians more than the amendments to the Constitution, read in the material “Kommersant” “Belarus was forgotten at the Belarusian referendum”.
