{"id":107248,"date":"2024-09-30T21:17:56","date_gmt":"2024-09-30T18:17:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/longreads\/107248\/"},"modified":"2026-04-15T13:35:32","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T13:35:32","slug":"lukasenka-underscores-succession-issue-at-meeting-with-students","status":"publish","type":"longreads","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/longreads\/107248\/","title":{"rendered":"\u0141uka\u0161enka underscores succession issue at meeting with students"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka made it clear at a meeting with students in Minsk on September 27 that he did not intend to step down anytime soon.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\n (Pexels.com)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Born to be president<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u0141uka\u0161enka began by asserting that \u201cyou have to be born a president,\u201d underscoring his belief in a special status akin to a divine mandate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When discussing potential successors, he mentioned several officials, including the prime minister, parliamentary leaders and a university rector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In April 2021, he had also named former Interior Minister Juryj Karaje\u016d and U\u0142adzimir Karanik, chairman of the Hrodna Regional Executive Committee, as possible successors. Karanik lacked charisma, and Karaje\u016d, who was born in Vladikavkaz, Russia, is constitutionally ineligible for the presidency. Thus, such statements should be regarded with skepticism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Experience matters<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Succession has long been a topic of speculation. In August, \u0141uka\u0161enka remarked that \u201cthere will be another president,\u201d leading to discussions about D\u017amitryj Krutoj, head of \u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s administration, as a potential candidate. The speculation was fueled when a TV station captured a close-up of Krutoj while \u0141uka\u0161enka spoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During his meeting with students, \u0141uka\u0161enka emphasized the importance of experience, suggesting that the 43-year-old Krutoj may not yet be ready for leadership. Interestingly, \u0141uka\u0161enka himself won his first presidential election at 39, later acknowledging that he lacked experience at the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He vividly remembers his victory in 1994, as he leveraged populism to defeat Prime Minister Via\u010das\u0142a\u016d Kiebi\u010d, an old-style bureaucrat. Additionally, he has not forgotten his probable defeat in the 2020 election to a younger female candidate. That embarrassment prompted him to entrench his regime and entirely reject democratic election standards, complicating succession.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one good or safe enough<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u0141uka\u0161enka would not name a successor, even if he had someone in mind, fearing the loss of power. He appears unprepared to relinquish authority and does not see any worthy candidates emerging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During his conversation with students, he admitted that he could not identify a single young person he deemed suitable. While he acknowledged that some officials possess outstanding individual qualities, he insisted that these attributes ideally should be unified in one person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Approaching Stalin-like end<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Succession is a challenge for any personalist regime. \u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s government restricts competitive mechanisms, making the transfer of power dependent solely on him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He has no plans for retirement, even after rewriting laws to secure his position and that of his family. Power can be addictive, and his concerns for his family’s safety render any law or potential successor inherently untrustworthy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A dynastic succession may be possible in the future, but his favored son, Mika\u0142aj, is still too young for such a role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ultimately, \u0141uka\u0161enka appears intent on delaying succession, seemingly determined to hold onto his throne for as long as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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