A variant of the draft of the updated Constitution was discussed in the Palace of Independence on the eve. The Constitutional Commission presented the preliminary results of the six months' work to the President. Since spring, about 40 experts were elaborating proposals to the basic law. Their joint efforts included analysis of the world experience in state-building and study of the current tendencies in development of the constitutional legislation. As a result, it was proposed to amend 53 articles of the Constitution and add 14 new ones and exclude three more. The amended constitution preserves the presidential form of government (but at the same time specifies the powers of the head of state, the government and parliament), establishes the constitutional status of the All-Belarusian People's Assembly and maintains the continuity of social policy. The President is sure: the new constitution must serve the Belarusian people that is why the basic law of the country is being improved. And Alexander Lukashenko urged all those involved in the development of the document, to think about their children: they will live by the new laws. But the final decision will be made by the people, a referendum will be held no later than February next year.
Several blocks of issues remain contentious: the composition and formation of the All-Belarusian People's Assembly, the use of the death penalty (a special referendum is planned for this purpose) and the right of labor collectives to nominate candidates for deputies. The President instructed to settle all debates within a month. A special group will be set up for that purpose, which will finalize the draft of the basic law. The Constitutional Commission will take part in its work. Only afterwards, the Constitution will be subjected to national discussion. And then Belarusians will vote for changes at a referendum.












