Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 18 March (BelTA) – I am not raising a successor. Only the one, who wins the vote of the majority of the population via elections, will lead the country. President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko made the relevant statement in an interview with the TV channel Russia Today, BelTA has learned.

“I am not thinking in terms of having to surrender the authority to someone. I swore that in no way will I hand over the power to my relatives, friends, or children. It is out of the question. The key thing is that the one, who wins the elections, will wield the authority after Lukashenko. Fair elections just like the ones I won for my first presidential terms. I was an opposition-nominated candidate. And the way I’ve been winning all the time. Although I have been criticized, dictatorship and rigged elections have been claimed. Those, who make objective evaluations, will never say that Lukashenko has been winning thanks to rigged elections. I’ve been honest in this regard and I would like people to rise to power after Lukashenko the same way, an honest way. Otherwise, the Belarusians will not accept it,” said the head of state.

Alexander Lukashenko made it clear he does not raise a successor. “Frankly speaking, when I think about the matter, I have made up my mind that I will not even support anyone publicly. Everything must be honest. The nation has to elect the leader when the time comes”.

The President was also asked to comment on the statement made during a visit to Venezuela about his youngest son Nikolai. Back then Alexander Lukashenko said there was someone to continue the cause that had been once started. “I remember it very well and said it responsibly. Continuing does not mean taking over the president’s office. There are a million people in Belarus, who are like Lukashenko’s youngest and there may be even more and they will continue the cause once started by Lukashenko,” stressed the President.

“The key result of our work – the work of Lukashenko and his colleagues is that for the first time in history we have lived for two decades in an independent state. We have created all the attributes of this state,” remarked the President. “Many generations have grown up and those like Lukashenko’s youngest will grow up. And there will be opportunities, there will be people to continue this cause. I didn’t mean that my youngest son will inherit the authority”.

The head of state also remarked that he did not want his son Nikolai to pursue politics. “He had enough of it at the age of eight. He saw it from his father. He did not have such a desire when he was a child and he doesn’t desire to follow in his father’s steps. No way. I don’t even talk about such things when I am at home. It is not a thing for kids,” said the President. “As far as the adult sons are concerned, they tell me directly that they have seen enough of my presidency. Therefore there are no talks about the handover of authority. I don’t even say these days that I have to hand over the authority to someone and I don’t train a person to hand over the authority to. The nation has to make up its mind in competition,” added the Belarus President.