Lukashenko Votes In Belarusian Referendum On Constitutional Amendments
Minsk, Feb 27: Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Sunday cast his vote in the referendum for amendments and additions to Belarus’ constitution.
Lukashenko voted at the polling station of the Belarusian State University of Physical Culture in Minsk. The decision taken at the referendum will come into force 10 days after the official publication of the results.
The referendum’s early polling was held from February 22 to February 26. The amendments suggest that one and the same person can be elected as president no more than for two terms.
The newly created All-Belarusian National Assembly is expected to become the country’s highest representative body, which would approve domestic and foreign policies’ frameworks, military doctrine and national security concept.
The assembly will be able to remove the president for systematic and flagrant violation of the constitution, for treason or some other serious crimes. On April 27, 2021, Lukashenko said that a draft of the new constitution would be put to a vote early in 2022, as it had to be prepared by the end of 2021. On March 16, 2021, Lukashenko signed a decree establishing a special 36-member commission to focus on drafting the amendments. The commission had to present its offers to the president by August 1, 2021.
