Will Belarus dictator Alexander Lukashenko (67) secure a quiet life after his self-chosen term in office?
On Monday, the text of the draft of a new constitution appeared in the Belarusian state media, which should be voted on in two months. A constitution by and for Lukashenko that does not deserve its name.
▶ ︎ This includes: a strengthening of the Belarusian prime minister and the Belarusian parliament as well as a slight weakening of the presidency itself.
Everything is wasted, because the official head of government of the country is a puppet of Lukashenko and the parliament meets with the exact composition and distribution of seats that dictator Lukashenko considers appropriate.
Much more important, however: “All” former presidents – and there has only been one since 1994, namely Lukashenko – should in future remain unaffected by any charges against them after their term of office.
The draft constitution says literally: “A president who has resigned from office cannot be held liable for actions related to the exercise of his presidency.”
► A pension immunity for the dictator, who is accused of repression, torture and murder in the course of the protests against his regime last year.
Not to mention aircraft hijackings and smuggling activities on the EU’s external border.
In addition, the new constitution stipulates that a president can only hold two terms and then cannot run again. However, this only applies after the constitution comes into force, which would mean that Lukashenko could run for a seventh and eighth time and become president again.
A constitution that only serves Lukashenko.
Minsk journalist: Lukashenko remains in power
This is how the Belarusian journalist and scientist at the Atlantic Council think tank, Hanna Liubakova, sees it.
The Minsk woman, who had fled into exile, told BILD that the proposed constitution “does not offer any significant changes and does not solve the acute political crisis and the human rights crisis in Belarus”.
The opposite is the case, Liubakova continues. The new constitution “only consolidates more power in the house that Lukashenko built for himself. The most significant change is a newly built large room in this house – the introduction of the ‘All Belarus People’s Assembly’ as the highest representative body. It means that Lukashenko may be looking for a way out for himself by simply moving into this room. “
► Liubakova’s sad result of the draft constitution: “Even in future faked elections, the Belarusians will not have a real choice. Whether they accept or reject the new constitution, Lukashenko remains in power. “
No wonder, because the constitutional commission is headed by Lukashenko’s loyal chairman of the constitutional court, Piotr Miklashevich, and not a single opposition politician or member of civil society belongs to the 36 members …
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