Belarusian Democracy: Citizen Engagement In Governance

Citizens of Belarus have limited opportunities to participate in their government. The country is a semi-presidential republic with a highly centralized and authoritarian government, often described as a dictatorship. The constitution provides for a directly elected president who is head of state, and a bicameral parliament, the National Assembly. However, power is concentrated in the presidency, and citizens are unable to choose their government through free and fair elections.

The president is the head of state and has the right to initiate legislation, sign or reject laws, and issue decrees that are mandatory across the country. The president also has a say in the formation and functioning of the executive branch, appointing the prime minister and determining the structure of the government. The president is elected for a five-year term and can serve an unlimited number of terms.

The National Assembly consists of the House of Representatives and the Council of the Republic. Members of the House of Representatives are elected by universal adult suffrage, while members of the Council of the Republic are mostly elected by regional councils, with a small number appointed by the president.

The constitution guarantees certain rights and freedoms for citizens, including freedom of thought, expression, assembly, and association. However, in practice, these rights are often restricted, and the government has been accused of human rights violations, including torture, arbitrary arrest and detention, censorship, and restrictions on freedom of movement.

The government also controls the media and restricts access to information, with state-controlled media presenting only the official version of events. Independent media outlets face censorship and discriminatory publishing and distribution policies.

The judicial system in Belarus lacks independence and is subject to political interference. The judiciary comprises the Supreme Court, the Supreme Economic Court, and the Constitutional Court, which has the final ruling on the country's basic law. Judges are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Council of the Republic.

Overall, citizens of Belarus have limited opportunities to participate in their government due to the centralized and authoritarian nature of the regime, restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly, and lack of independence in the judicial system.

Voting in elections

The president of Belarus is the head of state and is elected by popular vote. The president has significant authority, including the power to appoint the prime minister, who is the nominal head of government but is subordinate to the president. The president also has the right to initiate legislation, sign or reject laws, and adopt decrees that carry the force of law throughout the country.

The National Assembly, a bicameral parliament, plays a largely ceremonial role. The lower chamber, the House of Representatives, is made up of 110 members elected in geographic constituencies. The upper chamber, the Council of the Republic, consists of 56 members, with eight representing each region and an additional eight from the city of Minsk.

The Constitution of Belarus, adopted in 1994, provides for the fundamental structure of the state and guarantees certain rights and freedoms for its citizens. However, amendments made to the Constitution in 1996 and 2004 have been criticised for consolidating power in the executive branch and undermining the rule of law.

The country's electoral process has been marred by allegations of manipulation and fraud, with the opposition often facing restrictions and intimidation. Independent observers have noted issues such as inflated voter turnout, multiple voting, non-transparent home voting, and voter intimidation.

Despite these concerns, elections in Belarus continue to be held, and citizens have the right to cast their votes. However, the impact of their votes on the country's political landscape is limited due to the centralised power structure and the dominance of the executive branch.

Joining a political party

The number of parties has grown to 15 over time, but independent political parties have virtually no chance of securing seats in parliament or local councils since 2006. The government has refused to register some opposition parties, and the few that are registered face constant harassment and arbitrary checks. The government has also restricted their activities and impeded their ability to organize, run for election, seek votes, and publicize their views.

The government has allowed approximately half a dozen largely inactive but officially registered pro-Lukashenko political parties to operate freely. These parties include the Communist Party of Belarus, the Liberal Democratic Party of Belarus, and the Agrarian Party.

In early 2023, the Belarusian authorities announced mandatory re-registration of political parties, aiming to limit the number of regime-friendly parties to 3 to 4 out of the current 15. It is expected that the pro-government association, Belaya Rus, will effectively transform into a party of power.

The political party system in Belarus merely simulates competition, and the upcoming re-registration and purging of any remaining opposition will ensure that any semblance of competition vanishes completely.

Participating in civil society organisations

Despite this, some civil society organisations have adapted their activities to the new conditions and continue to assist their audiences. These include BYSOL, BYPOL, medical and sports solidarity foundations, and the Belarusian Rada of Culture. In late 2022, an ambitious platform called "New Belarus" was launched, aiming to serve as a digital alternative to the state.

In addition, there are some civil society traditions that have persisted. For example, the Belarusian People's Republic, which was the first attempt to create an independent Belarusian state, continues to exist as a government in exile.

Joining a trade union

The Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus (FTUB) is the country's largest public association and trade union centre. The primary mission of the FTUB is to protect the interests of workers and ensure fair treatment. The union's main principles are solidarity and partner cooperation with the authorities and employers.

Trade unions in Belarus help draft and examine legal acts related to labour, social and economic rights and interests of people. No document regulating labour relations is passed without legal evaluation by trade unions. The FTUB also processes requests and proposals of labour collectives and initiates appropriate amendments to labour regulations.

The FTUB provides legal assistance and support to employees, with more than 100 professional lawyers providing free advice. If necessary, the FTUB lawyers will represent trade union members in court free of charge. This legal assistance is available by phone, on the FTUB website, or during a personal visit. The FTUB holds legal advice reception hours in all the regions of the country.

Trade unions also help ensure the timely payment and correct calculation of salaries at enterprises and organisations. The FTUB specialists analyse the correlation between salaries and prices in the country and work to prevent unreasonable growth in prices for goods and services.

In addition to these activities, the FTUB runs 13 sanatoriums and health resorts, which all trade union members are entitled to free or subsidised trips to. The FTUB also prioritises the development of children's sports, running 107 sports schools with about 41,000 students participating in 48 sports.

Running for elected office

Belarus is a unitary democratic welfare and rule-of-law state. The country is led by a highly centralized and authoritarian government, with power concentrated in the hands of the president. The president is the head of state and is elected for a five-year term. The president has the right to initiate legislation, and can sign or reject laws. The president also has a say in the formation and functioning of the executive branch, appointing the prime minister with the prior consent of the House of Representatives.

The Republic of Belarus is a presidential republic, with the president holding significant authority, including the ability to issue decrees that carry the force of law. The president is also responsible for appointing and dismissing key figures such as members of the electoral commission, the cabinet, and the heads of the Supreme Court, the Constitutional Court, and the Supreme Economic Court.

The National Assembly, which is a bicameral parliament, plays a largely ceremonial role. The House of Representatives is the lower chamber and is made up of 110 members who are elected in geographic constituencies. The Council of the Republic is the upper chamber and consists of 56 members, with eight representing each region and an additional eight from the city of Minsk.

To run for elected office in Belarus, candidates must be citizens of the country and meet the age requirements. For the House of Representatives, candidates must be at least 21 years old by election day. For the Council of the Republic, a citizen must be at least 30 years old and have lived in the relevant region or the city of Minsk for at least five years.

It is important to note that the electoral process in Belarus has been criticized by international observers and organizations, such as the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), for not meeting international standards and lacking transparency. There have been allegations of manipulated elections, arbitrary decrees, and restrictions on the opposition.

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