Belarus' Political Spectrum: Right Or Left Wing?

Belarus has a diverse political spectrum, with several conservative and liberal political parties. The country's political system includes 15 political parties, which can be divided into several groups. These include left-wing parties, such as the Communist Party of Belarus, the Belarusian Left Party A Just World, and the Belarusian Agrarian Party, which protect the interests of working people and advocate for collective responsibility. Belarus also has social and democratic parties, such as the Belarusian Social Democratic Assembly, liberal parties, such as the Liberal Democratic Party, and parties that do not manifest their ideological principles, such as the Belarusian Social and Sports Party. Since the election of President Alexander Lukashenko in 1994, political success has been more dependent on loyalty to the president than on party affiliation.

The Belarusian Left Party A Just World

The Belarusian Left Party "A Just World"

The Belarusian Left Party "A Just World" is a left-wing political party in Belarus that was founded in 1991. The party advocates for a just and equitable society that guarantees social and economic rights for all citizens. With a strong commitment to social justice, the party believes in the equal worth and dignity of every person, aiming to eliminate social inequalities and ensure equal opportunities.

Ideology and Principles

At the heart of the party's ideology lies the belief in the common good and collective action to achieve a fair and inclusive society. They advocate for a strong social safety net, including universal access to quality education, healthcare, and affordable housing. The party also prioritizes labour rights, promoting the idea of worker-owned cooperatives and advocating for fair wages, safe working conditions, and robust union rights.

Environmental sustainability is another key aspect of the party's platform. They advocate for a green economy, promoting renewable energy sources, sustainable agricultural practices, and the protection of natural resources. The party also emphasizes the importance of gender equality and the rights of marginalized communities, including racial and ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with disabilities. They support affirmative action and policies that promote equal representation and opportunities for these groups.

Policies and Objectives

The Belarusian Left Party has a range of policies and objectives aimed at creating a more just and equitable Belarus. This includes progressive tax reforms to reduce economic inequality, increased funding for public services, and the nationalization of key industries to ensure they serve the public interest. The party also advocates for a more democratic and transparent political system, with greater citizen participation and accountability from elected officials.

In terms of foreign policy, the party supports peaceful international cooperation and the promotion of human rights globally. They oppose militarism and believe in using diplomacy and dialogue to resolve international conflicts. The party has also voiced its support for protecting Belarus' independence and sovereignty, advocating for a balanced approach in relations with neighbouring countries and global powers.

The Communist Party of Belarus

Belarus has a diverse political spectrum, with political parties ranging from liberal to conservative. The Communist Party of Belarus (CPB) is a Marxist–Leninist political party that was created in 1996. The party has held more seats in the National Assembly of Belarus than any other party since the 2000 Belarusian parliamentary election, the first national election it participated in.

The CPB is a pro-presidential party that supports the government of President Alexander Lukashenko. Lukashenko has been the president of Belarus since 1994 and has been referred to as "Europe's last dictator". He heads an authoritarian government, and elections under his rule are not considered free and fair by international monitors. The media is also not free, and opponents of the regime are repressed.

The CPB suggested merging with the Belarusian Left Party "A Just World" (PKB) in 2006. However, the PKB was one of the major opposition parties in Belarus, and its chairman, Sergey Kalyakin, claimed that the proposed merger was a plot designed to oust the opposition PKB.

The CPB is part of the Union of Communist Parties-Communist Party of the Soviet Union (SKP-KPSS) and the International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties (IMCWP). It enjoys relations with other communist parties in post-Soviet states and worldwide.

During the 2020-2021 Belarusian protests, the CPB participated in a meeting in support of President Lukashenko.

The Belarusian Agrarian Party

The Agrarian Party obtained 33 out of 198 seats in the 1995 legislative election. However, the 1996 constitutional crisis split the party between those who supported Lukashenko and those who opposed him. The party was re-registered in 1999 and announced its intention to cooperate with the authorities. In the 2000 and 2004 elections, the party gained 5 and 3 seats in the House of Representatives, respectively. In 2008, the party was reduced to one seat, which it lost in the 2016 election. The party regained a seat in the assembly in the 2019 Belarusian parliamentary election.

In August 2023, the Belarusian Agrarian Party dissolved itself.

The Republican Party of Labor and Justice

At the extraordinary XIII Congress of the RPLJ in 2020, Vasily Zadnepryany, who had headed the party since 2006, was expelled from its members. Alexander Alexandrovich Stepanov then became the acting chairman of the party.

The RPLJ has had mixed results in elections over the years. In the 1995 Belarusian parliamentary election, the party obtained one out of 198 seats. In the 2000 legislative election, it gained two out of 110 seats in the House of Representatives. The party did not fare well in the following 2004 and 2008 elections but won one seat in 2012. In the 2019 Belarusian parliamentary election, the RPLJ won a total of six seats in the House of Representatives.

In the local Councils of Deputies of the Republic of Belarus elections in 2014, 36 people from the RPLJ were elected. Two members of the party are currently part of the Minsk City Council of Deputies.

The Belarusian Patriotic Party

The BPP was loyal to and officially supported President Lukashenko, and combined Belarusian patriotism with socialism. The party's unique trait was its combination of Belarusian patriotism with socialism, and it consisted of left-nationalist activists. The party's official goals included:

> "assistance in building a socially just society; assistance to the formation of a renewed union of fraternal peoples and, first of all, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine; supporting the president in his efforts to implement the preeminent program and urgent measures to bring Belarus out of the crisis; protection of national interests, honor and dignity of the Fatherland in all spheres."

The BPP also called for the abolition of the Belovezha Accords and condemned NATO and the United States for the bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999. It also argued that, in the face of American imperialism, all radio and television stations in Belarus should cease any English-language broadcasts, including English-language music.

The BPP was allied with the Communist Party of Belarus and the Liberal Democratic Party of Belarus. It also cooperated with the Belarusian Exarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church and former military organizations. In 2015, the party nominated Nikolai Ulakhovich as its candidate for the presidential elections, in which he finished fourth out of four candidates with 1.7% of the vote. In 2018, one of the BPP's candidates was elected to the Minsk City Council of Deputies. However, the party was liquidated by the Supreme Court of Belarus in July 2023 following a complaint from the Ministry of Justice.

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