Belarus has decided on the date of the referendum on the Constitution

Offered change and add 80 article dedicated to who can be a candidate for the presidency of Belarus. If accepted, only a citizen over 40 years old (previously 35 years old), who has permanently resided in Belarus for the past 20 years (instead of ten), and has never previously had foreign citizenship or any other foreign document giving the right to benefits (this condition did not exist before). 130 thousand Belarusians and many leaders of the Belarusian opposition are the owners Pole cards (issued to those who have proven belonging to the Polish people and gives benefits, for example, for education).

It is also proposed to change the second part of Article 18. Now it says that “the Republic of Belarus aims to make its territory a nuclear-free zone, and the state neutral.” This did not prevent Lukashenka in an interview with RIA Novosti in early December declarethat Belarus will offer Russia to deploy nuclear weapons on its territory if NATO takes a similar step in Poland. The new version of this article will say that “the Republic of Belarus excludes military aggression from its territory against other states.” On Friday Lukashenka declaredthat if armies begin to be deployed against the Union State of Russia and Belarus, put on the brink of survival with various kinds of sanctions, intimidate and threaten, then Moscow and Minsk “will break so that it will not seem enough.”

In addition, it is proposed to clarify that “marriage” is “the union of a man and a woman.” And also that “the preservation of the historical memory of the heroic past of the Belarusian people, patriotism” is the duty of every citizen.

In addition to changing existing articles, it is proposed to add a new section to the new Constitution, dedicated to the All-Belarusian People’s Assembly (VNC). The VNS has been conducted every five years since 1996. At it, Lukashenka’s activists adopted a declaration program for the next five-year period. The meeting did not have any official status and real powers.

Now it is proposed to make the SNC “the highest representative body of democracy.” Lukashenka previously called it the “Belarusian veche.” The assembly will be elected for five years, it will include representatives of the three branches of government and “civil society”. In total – 1200 people.

The chairman elected by the delegates will head the SNC. The term of the body in one composition is five years. It will have to meet without fail for discussions and decision-making – at least once a year. It is proposed to give the SPC broad powers, such as the appointment of judges of the Supreme and Constitutional Courts, members of the Central Election Commission. The delegates will have the right to impeach the president with a two-thirds vote. The grounds for this are gross violations of the Constitution, treason or other grave crimes. The SNA will also have the right to determine the main directions of domestic and foreign policy, call referendums, propose amendments to the Constitution, introduce martial law, consider the question of the legitimacy of elections, and submit bills to parliament.

In order for a new constitution to be adopted, it must be approved majority of citizensincluded in the voting lists.

The referendum was supposed to be a point of reconciliation between opponents and supporters of the authorities in Belarus. It was announced and actively started to be prepared immediately after the events of late summer-autumn 2020, when tens of thousands of Belarusians protested demanding Lukashenka’s resignation and against the violence of the security forces. In November 2020, the Belarusian President promisedthat “with the new Constitution, I will no longer work with you as a president.”

Now he has revised this position, follows from his latest statements. January 21 he saidthat the transit of power can be discussed two or three years after the adoption of the new constitution. In his opinion, this period is sufficient for Belarusians to “start living according to the law” and “quietly and calmly rebuild everything.” At the same time, he assured that he does not recognize any means of changing power in the republic, except for “fair elections.” “I swear to you as to my people. It will only be so. And no one will dominate anyone. I will not hold power by force,” Lukashenka promised once again.

On January 21, the Belarusian opposition agreed on a common strategy of action in a referendum, which it considers illegitimate. “This is not a choice “for” and “against”, this is just a proposal to choose between Lukashenka and Lukashenka,” thinks Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, ex-presidential candidate. Oppositionists urge Belarusians to come to the polling stations, pick up ballots and make them invalid.