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New Belarus Constitution draft to be submitted for nationwide discussion by year-end

MINSK, 15 November (BelTA) – The new Belarus Constitution draft is to be submitted for nationwide discussion in late November-early December 2021, Head of the Belarus President Administration Igor Sergeyenko told reporters following President Aleksandr Lukashenko’s meeting with the working group on finalizing the new Constitution draft on 15 November, BelTA has learned.

On 15 November the working group completed the work on the constitutional amendments by and large. The new Constitution draft was scrutinized literally article-by-article. After that, the draft will be submitted for consideration to the Constitutional Commission. “So far, the proposals put forward by the working group have been generally supported. In the future, they will be discussed by the Constitutional Commission (before that, the commission will study the text we will send them literally this week). I think that in late November-early December 2021 the  Constitution draft will be put to a nationwide discussion,” Igor Sergeyenko said.

At the stage of public discussion, everyone will have the opportunity to contribute their proposals and views regarding the amendments and they will be taken into account in the final version of the amendments. "You see there are many stages in the work since this document is long-term," the head of the Belarus President Administration noted.

Separately, journalists asked about the status and powers of the Belarusian People's Congress. "The Belarusian People's Congress will be proposed as the supreme representative body," he said. "Its powers will be defined accordingly. A number of powers have been proposed by the Constitutional Commission. The working group suggested, among other things, the powers regarding the election of leaders from among the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court, the Central Election Commission, the power to approve the social and economic development programs for the five-year terms and a number of others." The procedure of nominating delegates to the Belarusian People’s Congress is also reflected in the Constitution draft.

"Innovations should not destabilize the situation in the country or create the imbalance in the system of state bodies. Innovations are aimed at bolstering the statehood and constitutional order and sovereignty of our country," Igor Sergeyenko emphasized.

The final text of the amendments to the Constitution shall be made public a month before the referendum.

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