{"id":83081,"date":"2024-05-01T20:24:02","date_gmt":"2024-05-01T17:24:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/longreads\/83081\/"},"modified":"2024-05-03T15:01:58","modified_gmt":"2024-05-03T12:01:58","slug":"lukasenka-limits-role-of-all-belarusian-peoples-assembly-to-talking-shop","status":"publish","type":"longreads","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/longreads\/83081\/","title":{"rendered":"\u0141uka\u0161enka limits role of All-Belarusian People\u2019s Assembly to talking shop"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The All-Belarusian People’s Assembly (UNS) April 24-25 session was hyped up by state propaganda, but the gathering of hand-picked delegates remains on the margins of politics.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n \"\"\n
\n \n
\n (pexels.com \/ Becerra Govea)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In the run-up to the event, observers wondered whether the Belarusian leader established a new center of power. Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka, however, does not see it this way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Propaganda frenzy<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The UNS was given broad powers under the Constitution approved at a referendum in February 2022. Formally, it can take up almost any issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since the UNS only meets once a year, its functions between the sessions are performed by its Presidium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Observers expected \u0141uka\u0161enka to form the Presidium of the heads of key government agencies, security services in the first place, so that it would become an influential body like the Security Council, or the Soviet Union Communist Party Politburo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the Presidium consists of obscure mid-ranking officials. Only the executive government heads of the Brest and Hrodna regions can be considered bureaucratic heavyweights. Predictably, \u0141uka\u0161enka had himself elected as chairman of the UNS and its Presidium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n \"\"\n
\n \n
\n (Foreign ministry)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Short session<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In the run-up to the session, propaganda launched a massive advertising campaign, misleading independent observers into overestimating UNS importance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, \u0141uka\u0161enka did not even pretend that the UNS had any influence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The session lasted only one full working day. All of the six previous sessions lasted longer and involved more speakers and foreign guests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This time, the Belarusian ruler decided that none of that was necessary. Getting business done quickly was his main idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kasiniec not a potential successor<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Analysts were clearly disappointed because they could not identify \u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s potential successor among the UNS leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

UNS Deputy Chairman Alakandar Kasiniec, a former head of the \u0141uka\u0161enka administration,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

was struggling with his career recently. His previous position as an assistant to \u0141uka\u0161enka was not particularly influential or promising.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most observers concluded that the Belarusian ruler is unlikely to pick Kasiniec as his successor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His appointment testifies to \u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s intention to keep the UNS on the margins of politics for a while.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u0141uka\u0161enka cannot tolerate second center of power<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The 2022 Constitution expanded UNS powers at the expense of other branches, including the president. By installing himself as chairman of the UNS, \u0141uka\u0161enka retains the powers he had under the old constitution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He does not need another center of power. He made it clear that power will be concentrated in his hands, and any attempt to claim even a fraction of his power will be penalized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n \"\"\n
\n
\n\n \u0141uka\u0161enka and delegates at the session of the All-Belarusian National Assembly in Minsk on April 25\n <\/div>\n \n
\n (\u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s press office)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In 2023, \u0141uka\u0161enka reluctantly gave the green light for the establishment of Bie\u0142aja Ru\u015b, which was mistakenly referred to as the party of power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Belarusian leader did not attend its founding conference and did not send a message of greetings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He understands that any government body or party can be looking for greater influence and eventually challenge him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For this reason, he decided that the UNS role should be limited to a bureaucratic talking shop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Canceled departure<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u0141uka\u0161enka conceived the UNS as a mechanism to smooth over bumps in the transfer of his power to a successor. Now that he has changed his mind on succession, he is not quite sure what to do with the UNS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He eventually decided that it should remain a completely ornamental body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The UNS approved an updated national security concept and a military doctrine. The public does not perceive these policy documents as important. Both papers were amended this year with the only purpose to fill the UNS agenda with some content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nobody knows if the UNS will ever become a political player. \u0141uka\u0161enka has no answer to this question either. The assembly may try to compete for influence during a future political crisis, which is unlikely at the moment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The All-Belarusian People’s Assembly (UNS) April 24-25 session was hyped up by state propaganda, but the gathering of hand-picked delegates remains on the margins of politics. In the run-up to the event, observers wondered whether the Belarusian leader established a new center of power. Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka, however, does not see it this way. Propaganda frenzy […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":48524,"template":"","rubric":[24],"class_list":["post-83081","longreads","type-longreads","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","rubric-theviewer"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\u0141uka\u0161enka limits role of All-Belarusian People\u2019s Assembly to talking shop | Pozirk<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The All-Belarusian People's Assembly (UNS) April 24-25 session was hyped up by state propaganda, but the gathering of hand-picked delegates remains on 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\/83081\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"\u0141uka\u0161enka limits role of All-Belarusian People\u2019s Assembly to talking shop 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