Alyaksandr Lukashenka, more than three years after changes to the Constitution that elevated the status of the All-Belarusian People’s Assembly (ABPA), says the body’s working style is still not established and warns of a potential conflict between the ABPA and a “different president.” He made the remarks at a meeting of the ABPA presidium. Notably, Lukashenka expressed similar concerns during the preparation of the constitutional amendments.
“The most dangerous thing for us (people have noticed this, especially specialists) is if the ABPA (not today, of course) later starts to conflict with another president. That would be a disaster. There must be no conflict. Therefore, when essentially building the work of the ABPA and its presidium, we must ensure that everyone focuses on their own responsibilities,” he said, according to his press service.
Lukashenka again tried to explain the difference between the powers of various bodies in the system he created.
“The president is the president. This is the head of state, and his powers have, broadly speaking, been settled over decades, and they should not be dismantled. This provides a certain effect,” he said.
According to him, the ABPA should deal with “global issues.” This is set out not by chance, but “in reinforced-concrete terms.”
“We have agreed — and this is now set in reinforced concrete — that it determines the state’s direction of work for the foreseeable future, the strategic tasks,” he added.
At the same time, Lukashenka believes the ABPA’s remit may include not only strategy but also tactics. In his view, delegates should observe processes in the country, identify shortcomings and “gently point them out” to local authorities.
However, the ABPA should not resemble certain bodies that “run around the country and monitor various processes.” Notably, Lukashenka himself regularly instructs various state bodies and organisations to carry out oversight. For example, prices in shops are monitored by members of the House of Representatives, members of the Council of the Republic and the Federation of Trade Unions, in addition to the Antimonopoly and Trade Ministry, the State Control Committee and other supervisory bodies.
“Some here are preoccupied with the problem of how to organise the work of the ABPA and its delegates… They propose monitoring everything and everyone. This must not be allowed. Everyone has their own duties and powers. If we violate a certain order, we will end up with negative consequences,” he said.
He considers major issues within the ABPA’s competence to include the five-year development programme.
“All delegates and presidium members must see how this programme is being implemented in the country, how its main provisions are being carried out,” Lukashenka said.