The President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, has been in power since 1994 and is currently serving his sixth term. Lukashenko is based in the Palace of the Republic in the capital, Minsk, while the presidential residence is located in Zaslawye, near the capital. Lukashenko is often referred to as Europe's last dictator, presiding over an authoritarian government. International monitors have not regarded Belarusian elections as free and fair, except for his initial win.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Name | Alexander Lukashenko |
Other names | Alyaksandr Ryhoravich Lukashenka |
Born | 30 August 1954 |
Birthplace | Kopys, Orsha District, Vitebsk Oblast |
Alma mater | Kuleshov Mogilev State Pedagogical Institute, Belarusian Agricultural Academy |
Profession before presidency | Director of a state farm, served in the Soviet Border Troops and the Soviet Army |
Political party | Independent |
First elected | 1994 |
Current term | Sixth |
Residence | Independence Palace in Minsk |
Office | Palace of the Republic in Minsk |
What You'll Learn
The President of Belarus lives in the Independence Palace in Minsk
The Independence Palace has been the site of several significant events. Lukashenko was inaugurated for his fifth term as president in the palace in 2015, and it was also the location of his meeting with former Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev in 2019. In addition, the palace became a focal point during the 2020 Belarusian protests, with footage emerging of Lukashenko surveying the demonstrators from a helicopter.
The presidential office is located in the Palace of the Republic in Minsk, the capital of Belarus. The Independence Palace serves as the presidential residence, reflecting the significant role of the president in the country's governance.
As the head of state and government, the President of Belarus possesses wide-reaching powers. These include implementing domestic and foreign policy, representing the state on the international stage, calling parliamentary elections, appointing key officials, granting pardons, and awarding honours. The president is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and the Head of the Security Council.
Lukashenko has been a controversial figure, often referred to as "Europe's last dictator." His governments have been characterised by authoritarian rule, suppression of opposition, and limited media freedom. Western governments have imposed sanctions on Lukashenko and other Belarusian officials due to these concerns. Despite this, Lukashenko has maintained power through multiple elections, although their fairness has been questioned by international observers.
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The Presidential Office is located in the Palace of the Republic
The current president, Alexander Lukashenko, was elected in 1994 and is now serving his sixth term. Lukashenko is the only person to have served as President of Belarus since the 1994 elections. He is the current longest-serving head of state in Europe.
Lukashenko has been referred to as "Europe's last dictator" due to his authoritarian government. International monitors have not regarded Belarusian elections as free and fair, except for his initial win. The government suppresses opponents and limits media freedom. This has resulted in multiple Western governments imposing sanctions on Lukashenko and other Belarusian officials.
The President of Belarus is elected by the people of Belarus for a five-year term. To be eligible for the presidency, a candidate must be a Belarusian citizen by birth, over thirty-five years old, and a resident of Belarus for at least twenty years.
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The President is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces
The President of Belarus is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. The role of Commander-in-Chief is one of several functions that the President of Belarus performs as the country's head of state.
The President of Belarus is responsible for the sovereignty of the Republic of Belarus, its territorial integrity, and its political and economic stability. The President also acts as the Head of the Security Council.
The President of Belarus has wide-reaching powers, including the implementation of the key principles of domestic and foreign policy, representing the State of Belarus on the international stage, calling regular and extraordinary Parliament elections, appointing the Prime Minister and the Chair of the principal courts in Belarus, granting pardons to convicted prisoners, and awarding state honours, ranks, and titles.
The President's duties also include protecting the Belarusian territory from internal and external forces. The President can call for a state of emergency in the event of natural disasters, catastrophes, or civil unrest involving violence or the threat of violence.
The President of Belarus is currently Alexander Lukashenko, who has held the office since 1994. Lukashenko is the only person to have served as President of Belarus and is the longest-serving head of state in Europe. He was re-elected for his sixth term in 2020, although the election was marred by allegations of widespread electoral fraud and mass protests. Lukashenko's government has been described as authoritarian, and he has often been referred to as "Europe's last dictator".
Lukashenko's early economic policies aimed to prevent the issues that occurred in other post-Soviet states, such as mass unemployment and the establishment of oligarchic structures. He kept many industries under government control and maintained state ownership of key industries. Lukashenko also opposed economic shock therapy during the 1990s post-Soviet transition. As a result, Belarus was spared recessions as devastating as those in other post-Soviet states.
Lukashenko's supporters argue that his rule has spared Belarus the turmoil experienced by other former Soviet countries. However, his government has been criticised for repressing opponents, limiting media freedom, and holding elections that are not considered free and fair by international monitors.
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The President is the Head of State and Government
The President of Belarus is the head of state and government. The office was created in 1994 with the passing of the Constitution of Belarus by the Supreme Council. The President is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus and the Head of the Security Council. The President's role includes executing foreign and domestic policy, defending the rights and general welfare of citizens and residents, and upholding the Constitution.
The President is mandated by the Constitution to serve as a leader in the social affairs of the country and to act as its main representative abroad. The President is also entrusted with the safety, prosperity and stability of the country and acts as an intermediary between the bodies of the national government.
The President is elected by the people of Belarus for a five-year term. Any Belarusian citizen over the age of 18 can vote in the elections. To be eligible to run for office, a candidate must be a Belarusian citizen by birth, over 35 years old, and have resided in the republic for ten years.
The President has wide-reaching powers, including implementing key principles of domestic and foreign policy, representing the State of Belarus on the international stage, calling regular and extraordinary Parliament elections, appointing the Prime Minister and the Chair of the principal courts in Belarus, granting pardons to convicted prisoners, and awarding state honours, ranks and titles.
The President enjoys full immunity, and the Constitution states that the honour and dignity of the Presidential office should always be protected. The Presidential office is located in the Palace of the Republic in the capital, Minsk, while the presidential residence is located in Zaslawye, near the capital.
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The President is elected by the people of Belarus
The President of Belarus is elected by the people of Belarus. The country's first president, Alexander Lukashenko, was elected in 1994 and has been in power ever since. Lukashenko is the only person to have served as president of Belarus, and he is currently serving his sixth term.
The president of Belarus is the head of state and head of government. The office was created in 1994 with the passing of the Constitution of Belarus by the Supreme Council. The president's duties include executing foreign and domestic policy, defending the rights and general welfare of citizens and residents, and upholding the Constitution. The president is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus and the Head of the Security Council.
The term for the president is five years, and elections occur every five years by a national vote. To be eligible to run for office, a candidate must be a Belarusian citizen by birth, over thirty-five years old, and have resided in the republic for ten years. Any Belarusian citizen over the age of eighteen can vote in the elections.
The election process involves two rounds of voting. In the first round, if a candidate earns fifty per cent plus one of the votes, they are declared the President-elect. If no candidate achieves this, a run-off election is held between the two candidates who received the most votes. The person who wins the most votes in the run-off is declared the president-elect.
Alexander Lukashenko has faced criticism and controversy during his time in office. He has been accused of rigging elections, suppressing opponents, and limiting media freedom. International monitors have not considered Belarusian elections free and fair, except for his initial win. As a result, Lukashenko has been labelled by the media as "Europe's last dictator".
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Frequently asked questions
The President of Belarus lives in the Palace of the Republic in Minsk, the capital of Belarus.
The President of Belarus's full name is Alexander Grigoryevich Lukashenko.
Alexander Lukashenko has been the President of Belarus since 1994.
The President of Belarus has wide-reaching powers, including implementing the key principles of domestic and foreign policy, representing the State of Belarus on the international stage, calling regular and extraordinary Parliament elections, appointing the Prime Minister and the Chair of the principal courts in Belarus, granting pardons to convicted prisoners, and awarding state honours, ranks and titles.