{"id":11546,"date":"2023-03-21T12:47:40","date_gmt":"2023-03-21T09:47:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/api.pozirk.online\/longreads\/bielaja-rus-may-not-become-party-of-power-despite-its-loyalty\/"},"modified":"2026-02-24T20:29:13","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T20:29:13","slug":"bielaja-rus-may-not-become-party-of-power-despite-its-loyalty","status":"publish","type":"longreads","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/longreads\/11546\/","title":{"rendered":"Bie\u0142aja Ru\u015b may not become party of power despite its loyalty"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n By Alaksandr K\u0142asko\u016dski, BPN<\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\n Alaksandr \u0141uka\u0161enka did not attend the founding conference of the Bie\u0142aja Ru\u015b Belarusian Party (BRBP) on March 18. He does not seem to be very enthusiastic about the idea of integrating a party of power into the political system. High-level delegates included Natallia Ka\u010danava, chair of the Council of the Republic and the Belarusian ruler\u2019s confidant.<\/span><\/b>\n<\/p>\n

Opponents locked out of dialog with government<\/h2>\n

\n\t The founding conference was a show of political grandstanding.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t Alieh Ramana\u016d, head of the Bie\u0142aja Ru\u015b association that is behind the party, claimed that the BRBP platform \u201chas received full support of Belarusian society.\u201d He alleged that the program document had been discussed by hundreds of worker staffs and at many dialog platforms.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t In truth, the discussions were a mere formality just like the debate on the draft Constitution a year or so ago. Clearly, most Belarusians have never seen the platform, which prioritizes the inviolability of the constitutional system.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t The party declared its role to be \u201can effective link in the dialog between citizens and the state,\u201d and represent the interests of all groups of Belarusian society. At the same time, it bills itself as a party of supporters of \u201cFirst President of Belarus Alaksandr \u0141uka\u0161enka.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n\t Based on its platform, it goes without saying that opponents of the head of state are excluded from the dialog between the citizens and the government.\n<\/p>\n

Opposition parties doomed<\/h2>\n

\n\t The Belarusian government has intimidated opposition parties and tampered with votes, pushing opponents to the margins of politics.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t The remaining opposition parties are doomed now that the government has announced a re-registration campaign scheduled to begin in summer.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t The authorities have raised the minimum membership threshold from 1000 to 5,000. Parties are required to have chapters in all regional and Minsk and in at least one third of the districts in all regions and Minsk.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t Opposition politicians indicated that the requirements cannot be met amid the relentless campaign of terror against critics. In addition, the new law allows the government to close down parties suspected of extremism and \u201cactivities harming state and\/or public interests,\u201d the labels that have been abused by the law enforcement system to eradicate dissent.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t Authorities seek to eliminate political parties that they deem undesirable, including those that \u201cdare to criticize decisions of the authorities and propose alternative ways\u201d of development, the \u201cJust World\u201d Belarusian Party of the Left (BPL) said earlier this month.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t The new party legislation will destroy the multiparty political system and will \u201csignificantly limit\u201d the ability of Belarusians to participate in political life, it noted.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t The Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Hramada) appealed to the Constitutional Court against the new legislation. However, any appeals are likely to ignored.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t Opposition parties may decide against submitting any documents for re-registration for fear of exposing members to intimidation.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t After all, the justice ministry has rejected multiple applications for registration of political parties in the last two decades. In fact, it has not registered a single opposition party in that period.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t The number of political parties in Belarus will drop from fifteen to three or four after re-registration, according to Justice Minister Siarhiej Chamienka.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t The justice ministry is likely to register the BRBP, pro-government Communists, Liberal Democrats and maybe one more pro-government party existing on paper only. Propaganda will claim that the registered groups represent the entire spectrum of ideologies.\n<\/p>\n

BRBP to play secondary role<\/h2>\n

\n\t \u201cThe level of political culture in our society has reached the point where we cannot drag our feet any longer \u2013 the decision [to organize the party] must be taken now,\u201d said Halina Huzo\u016dskaja, a speaker at the founding conference.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t She has a point. First, no political force can express a position that differs from the official line. And the time has come because \u0141uka\u0161enka has given the green light to the political window-dressing.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t Although the BRBP fully supports him, it is unlikely to enjoy party-of-power status.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t \u0141uka\u0161enka is wary of political parties regardless of loyalty. He does not trust anyone to share his autocratic powers.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t After all, political parties may involve citizens in politics, whereas \u0141uka\u0161enka and his lieutenants have indicated that their goal was to avoid \u201cpolitization.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n\t Incidentally, the Constitution and Electoral Code do not provide for elections based on party lists. The law makes no provision for representation of political parties at the All-Belarusian People\u2019s Assembly.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t Most notably, delegates at the founding conference have not set any targets related to the BRBP\u2019s representation in the parliament or other assemblies.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t Bie\u0142aja Ru\u015b leaders perfectly realize how dangerous it is to show political ambitions. They seem to understand that their party will play just a secondary role in the political system.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Alaksandr K\u0142asko\u016dski, BPN Alaksandr \u0141uka\u0161enka did not attend the founding conference of the Bie\u0142aja Ru\u015b Belarusian Party (BRBP) on March 18. He does not seem to be very enthusiastic about the idea of integrating a party of power into the political system. High-level delegates included Natallia Ka\u010danava, chair of the Council of the Republic and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":75,"featured_media":0,"template":"","rubric":[24],"class_list":["post-11546","longreads","type-longreads","status-publish","hentry","rubric-theviewer"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nBie\u0142aja Ru\u015b may not become party of power despite its loyalty | Pozirk<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"By Alaksandr K\u0142asko\u016dski, BPN Alaksandr \u0141uka\u0161enka did not attend the founding conference of the Bie\u0142aja Ru\u015b Belarusian Party (BRBP) on March 18. 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