Belarus' Political Party: Who's In Power?

Belarus has a de jure multi-party system, but it operates as a de facto one-party system within an authoritarian state. There are 15 registered political parties in Belarus, but they have no representation in the country's parliament and no say in political processes. The country's politics are largely dictated by attitudes towards the regime of President Alexander Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994. Lukashenko is technically independent of all political parties, but he has the support of parties such as the Communist Party of Belarus, the Liberal Democratic Party of Belarus, and the Agrarian Party. Opposition parties are permitted but have had little electoral success.

Belarus has a de jure multi-party system, but it operates as a de facto one-party system within an authoritarian state

Belarus has a multi-party system in name only; in reality, it operates as a one-party system within an authoritarian state. While there are several political parties in Belarus, they have no representation in parliament and no say in political processes. Political success depends on loyalty to the president, rather than party affiliation. The president, Alexander Lukashenko, is technically independent of all political parties.

There are more than a dozen registered political parties in Belarus, but only four are officially recognised: Belaya Rus, the Republican Party of Labour and Justice, the Communist Party of Belarus, and the Liberal Democratic Party of Belarus. These parties are supportive of Lukashenko.

Opposition parties are permitted but have had little electoral success. They include the Party of Communists of Belarus, the Party of the Belarusian Popular Front, the Conservative-Christian Party of the Belarusian Popular Front, the United Civic Party, and the Belarusian Social Democrats. Several other parties, such as the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party, have been denied registration by the government.

The political landscape in Belarus is largely defined by attitudes towards the Lukashenko regime. Pro-opposition parties are consistently harassed by the state, while pro-regime parties enjoy a degree of patronage.

Since gaining independence in 1991, Belarusian parties have remained under-institutionalised. They have thin membership bases, lack transparency in internal decision-making, and have little prospect of electoral success.

The Communist Party of Belarus is a successor to the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and is pro-Lukashenko

The Communist Party of Belarus (CPB) is a successor to the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) and is pro-Lukashenko. The CPB is a communist and Marxist–Leninist political party in Belarus, created in 1996. It supports the authoritarian government of President Alexander Lukashenko, who has often been referred to as "Europe's last dictator".

The CPB is the successor to the Communist Party of Byelorussia, which was the sole legal governing party during the Soviet era. During this time, Belarus had a Marxist–Leninist single-party socialist republic guided in part by the political ideas of Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, and Vladimir Lenin.

After Belarus declared its independence in 1990, the CPB was banned in the wake of the August 1991 coup d'état. However, Belarusian communists regrouped and formed the Party of Communists of Belarus (PCB), which became the umbrella organization for the country's communist parties and pro-Russian groups. The PCB was formally registered in December 1991, and the ban on the CPB was lifted in February 1993.

The CPB has been a strong supporter of President Lukashenko and his policies. In 2012, 17 of its members were appointed by him to the country's upper house, the Council of the Republic of Belarus. The party has also participated in meetings in support of Lukashenko during the 2020-21 Belarusian protests.

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, giving it a more extensive international reach than its opposition counterpart, the Party of Communists of Belarus (PKB), which is considered "pro-Western".

The CPB has had more seats in the National Assembly of Belarus than any other party since the 2000 parliamentary election, the first national election it participated in. However, it is important to note that most seats in the Belarusian legislature are held by independent politicians.

Opposition parties are permitted but have little electoral success

Belarus has a de jure multi-party system, but it operates as a de facto one-party system within an authoritarian state. Opposition parties are permitted but have little electoral success. The 2019 parliamentary elections, for instance, were won entirely by government functionaries, diplomats, and pro-government parties. The Communist Party of Belarus held 11 seats, the Republican Party of Labour and Justice held 6, the Belarusian Patriotic Party held 2, the Liberal Democratic Party held 1, the Belarusian Agrarian Party held 1, and independents (strongly tied to President Alexander Lukashenko) held 89.

The 2019 elections were neither free nor fair, with severe human rights violations and restrictions on the media. Ballot stuffing and the rejection of opposition candidates were common practices. Election observers and government opponents questioned the integrity of the elections, noting the exclusion of many opposition candidates, limited opportunities for public campaigning, and shortcomings during vote counting.

The Belarusian political system includes 15 political parties, which can be divided into several groups. Left-wing parties, such as the Communist Party of Belarus, the Belarusian Left Party "A Just World", and the Republican Party of Labour and Justice, advocate for the interests of working people and collective responsibility. Belarusian social and democratic parties include the Belarusian Social Democratic Assembly and the Belarusian Green Party. Liberal parties include the Liberal Democratic Party, the United Civic Party, and the Conservative Christian Party.

Despite their existence and participation in important political campaigns, opposition parties in Belarus have little electoral success due to the authoritarian nature of the state, restrictions on media and freedom of expression, and the suppression of human rights.

Parties supportive of Lukashenko include the Agrarian Party and the Liberal Democratic Party of Belarus

Belarus has a de jure multi-party system, but it operates as a de facto one-party system within an authoritarian state. There are 15 political parties in Belarus, which can be divided into several groups.

The Agrarian Party is an agrarian socialist political party that supported the government of Alexander Lukashenko. The party was formed in 1992 as the United Agrarian Democratic Party of Belarus and changed its name to the Agrarian Party in 1994. It advocated for the reform of society based on democratic socialism and a mixed economy. In 2023, the party dissolved itself.

The Liberal Democratic Party of Belarus (LDPB) was created in 1994 as the Belarusian successor of the Liberal Democratic Party of the Soviet Union. Despite claiming to be a "constructive and democratic opposition", the party de facto supports Lukashenko. The LDPB is an extremist party, dedicated to the restoration of the Soviet Union and Russian-Belarusian unionism. It is opposed to NATO, the European Union, and "international monopolies". The party's main supporters are ex-servicemen, mainly from the Soviet era, and those who favour closer ties or even union with Russia.

The Party of Communists of Belarus is an umbrella organisation for communist parties and pro-Russian groups

The political landscape in Belarus is complex and unique, with a dominant presidential regime and a limited presence of opposition parties. Among the various political entities in the country, the Party of Communists of Belarus (PKB) stands out for its distinct nature and affiliations.

The PKB is not merely a singular political party but rather an umbrella organization that encompasses various communist parties and pro-Russian groups within Belarus. It serves as a unifying force for these like-minded entities, providing a platform for their collective voice and interests. By coming together under the PKB, these communist parties and pro-Russian groups gain a sense of cohesion and representation in the country's political arena.

The PKB's alignment with communist ideologies is evident in its policies and goals. They advocate for traditional Marxist-Leninist principles, promoting a society based on collective ownership of the means of production and a centralized planned economy. This stance sets them apart from the more mainstream market-economy-oriented parties that are prevalent in many other European countries.

Additionally, the PKB has a strong pro-Russian stance, reflecting a desire for close ties and alignment with Russia. This position is not surprising given the historical and cultural links between the two countries. The PKB's support for Russia extends beyond mere foreign policy preferences; it also embraces cultural and social similarities, seeing Russia as a natural ally and partner. This pro-Russian sentiment is a significant unifying factor among the diverse groups within the PKB, providing a common ground for their collective efforts.

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