President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko has discussed the process of forming a new upper house of the Belarusian parliament with Natalia Kochanova, Chairperson of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly, BELTA reports.
"As for the House of Representatives (the lower chamber of the Belarusian parliament), the work is underway to start the work of the new composition. The volume is large. All the orders have been given there," said Alexander Lukashenko.
First of all, the House of Representatives will have to elect its leadership, chairmen of commissions. The necessary organizational support will be provided, and then it's up to the parliamentarians themselves. "I want the deputies themselves to determine how to live and work," said the head of state.
The Council of the Republic, in turn, is a chamber of territorial representation. Its formation is as follows: eight members of the Council of the Republic are elected by secret ballot from each region and the city of Minsk at the meetings of local councils of deputies; another eight members of the Council of the Republic are appointed by the President of Belarus.
Nomination of candidates to the Council of the Republic starts from March 12 and should take place no later than March 21. The elections to the Council of the Republic should be held on April 4 this year.
