Upper chamber passes All-Belarusian People’s Assembly bill

January 30, BPN. The Council of the Republic, the upper chamber of the National Assembly, has approved the All-Belarusian People’s Assembly bill, its press office reported.

The upper chamber’s speaker, Natalla Kačanava, praised the All-Belarusian People’s Assembly as a unique “form of the people’s power.”

“We understand that the world is very turbulent,” she said. “In order to develop our country, to live by its laws, to be sovereign and independent, we need an institution that will make important and serious decisions for our people at critical times.”

Belarusian MPs passed the bill in two readings on January 25. It may come into force after Alaksandr Łukašenka signs it into law. The bill sets out procedures for the Assembly’s convocation, specifying its powers and competencies.

Constitutional amendments, adopted in February 2022, refer to the All-Belarusian People’s Assembly as “the supreme representative body of democracy,” setting “strategic directions of development” and ensuring “the inviolability of the constitutional system.” It is to be formed of up to 1,200 delegates with a five-year mandate and convene at least once a year.

The Assembly will approve domestic and foreign policies, military doctrine, national security, as well as social and economic development. It will also be able to propose constitutional amendments and rule on the legitimacy of elections.