Łukašenka denies plan to establish party of power

March 31, BPN. Belarus will not have any party of power, Alaksandr Łukašenka has said in his annual address to the nation and parliament on March 31.

“Parties are formed to fight for power,” he said. “The pursuit of power by various political forces is not just a competition of views and systems, it is a division of society.” He also described political pluralism as a “tribute to the Western fashion.”

The state “has never interfered and will never interfere with party-building, especially if the initiative comes from people who sincerely love their country,” Łukašenka said.

Foreign-funded agents will not be allowed in Belarusian politics, he stressed, adding that there will be no party of power either.

On February 14, Łukašenka signed into law the bill on political parties and public associations after it was rushed through the National Assembly. The new legislation would require all functioning parties to re-register. Critics fear that the reregistration campaign will be used by the government to shut down the few remaining opposition parties.

On March 18, the major pro-governmental public association Biełaja Ruś founded a party of Łukašenka’s supporters bearing the same name.