{"id":11574,"date":"2023-06-05T09:41:37","date_gmt":"2023-06-05T06:41:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/api.pozirk.online\/longreads\/lukasenka-trying-to-win-back-voters-with-populism\/"},"modified":"2026-02-24T20:29:13","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T20:29:13","slug":"lukasenka-trying-to-win-back-voters-with-populism","status":"publish","type":"longreads","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/longreads\/11574\/","title":{"rendered":"\u0141uka\u0161enka trying to win back voters with populism"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n By Valeryj Karbalevi\u010d, BPN<\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\n In a rare incident in Belarus, ordinary people forced officials to respond to their demands in a recent dispute over the results of standardized school tests. Parents stood up for their children\u2019s rights despite political terror in the country.<\/span><\/b>\n<\/p>\n

\u0141uka\u0161enka intervenes, backs public <\/h2>\n

\n\t Education officials agreed last week to recalculate language test scores using a simpler method after parents and students had complained about flaws, prompting Belarusian ruler Alaksandr \u0141uka\u0161enka to intervene.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t However, Education Minister Andrej Ivaniec would not admit that any errors in calculations.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t Many students and parents were outraged when the results of the language test were announced last week, claiming they were lower than expected and the scoring system was flawed.<\/p>\n

\t Ivaniec dismissed the allegations of injustice, threatening persecution against critics for spreading \u201cfake news.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n\t But \u0141uka\u0161enka lashed out at the ministry for using a complicated digital method instead of \u201cestablishing a regular, comprehensive system.\u201d The education ministry eventually set up a commission to investigate the scoring process.<\/p>\n

\t Ivaniec said on June 2 that the enquiry had found no wrongdoing, adding that the method was beyond the understanding of the common folk.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t The dispute illustrates disadvantages of the repressive political system, in particular the lack of feedback and proper communication mechanisms between the government and the population as officials rely on coercive power to maintain control.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t The incident also exposed the raw nerves of voters and public mistrust for the government. Many people thought they were cheated.\n<\/p>\n

\u0141uka\u0161enka exercises flexibility<\/h2>\n

\n\t Although the education minister was initially uncompromising and assertive, the Belarusian strongman backed the angry parents and students, in an apparent effort to win back voters after he had completely lost their support during the disputed presidential election three years ago.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t He is not quite comfortable relying on force and truncheons for holding on to power. He may be seeking to recast himself as a popular leader responsive to society\u2019s woes.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t Besides, after the 2020 crisis, he is more cautious not to provoke the public into taking their grievances to the street.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t \u0141uka\u0161enka may be trying to be more responsive to sensitive issues to regain public support. In 2022, he launched a populist crusade against price hikes. The drive made little economic sense but resonated with voters.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t More recently he held a conference on healthcare, publicly threatening to \u201cskin\u201d officials over flaws in healthcare organization.\n<\/p>\n

Political intransigence<\/h2>\n

\n\t While \u0141uka\u0161enka may be willing to make concessions to voters on social matters, he would never compromise on politics, power and international relations.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t Polls show that voters, including many of his supporters, are concerned about reprisals against his political opponents, including allegations of torture and brutality. Most are open to the idea of negotiations between the government and the opposition to reach a sort of public consensus. He does not care about the public opinion.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t Last year, he dismissed as political ignorance questions from Belarusians asking why the All-Belarusian People\u2019s Assembly would not be elected by voters.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t Finally, most Belarusians are opposed to their country\u2019s involvement in Russia\u2019s war against Ukraine and to the possible deployment of nuclear weapons to Belarus (75-85 percent). However, \u0141uka\u0161enka ignores the public opinion.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Valeryj Karbalevi\u010d, BPN In a rare incident in Belarus, ordinary people forced officials to respond to their demands in a recent dispute over the results of standardized school tests. Parents stood up for their children\u2019s rights despite political terror in the country. \u0141uka\u0161enka intervenes, backs public Education officials agreed last week to recalculate language test […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":75,"featured_media":0,"template":"","rubric":[22],"class_list":["post-11574","longreads","type-longreads","status-publish","hentry","rubric-theviewer"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\u0141uka\u0161enka trying to win back voters with populism | Pozirk<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"By Valeryj Karbalevi\u010d, BPN In a rare incident in Belarus, ordinary people forced officials to respond to their demands in a recent dispute over the\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/longreads\/11574\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" 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