Aliaksandr Lukashenka has once again said that he has had enough of power and is not clinging to it, but he is not going to give it up either. He said this while speaking with journalists on March 20.
“I am a beneficial president for you, remember that. Beneficial in that I am not holding on to power. If anyone thinks otherwise, he is a complete fool. I am not thinking about how to preserve it. I have already had enough of this up to here. Therefore, I will not look at this from the point of view of my own position,” Lukashenka said.
At the same time, Lukashenka stressed that he is not throwing power away.
“Although I thought about this thesis this morning, and I am no longer throwing power around. This is what the people entrusted to me, saying: come on, you lead and answer for the country, and therefore for us as well. There are 10 million there, 12 with guests and so on. A quiet, calm country, our children. I am not throwing it away. But in violation of everything and everyone, including my own words, I am not holding on to this power. I am already speaking to people more frankly: idlers, you do not want to work, you are not doing this, you are not doing that. I am doing this openly,” Lukashenka said.
Lukashenka said that elections will be held “soon” and suggested electing a new president of Belarus if he does not suit the people. The presidential election was held in January 2025, and the inauguration took place in March 2025. Under the law, new elections must be scheduled no later than two months before the expiration of the term of office.
“Well, if the majority of the people do not like it — elections are soon, vote and elect a new president. I am not afraid of this. This is really so. And this is the benefit for our people,” he said.
He also said that 2020 will not be repeated in Belarus and stated that the released political prisoners who remained in Belarus are under the control of the special services.
Lukashenka often says that he has had enough of power and is not holding on to the presidential chair with blue fingers, and periodically speaks about successors. He has held his post for almost 32 years.