Miory Regional Executive Committee
The Constitution of Belarus has become a truly people's state-building document. This was stated by the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko on March 15 at a meeting dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the Constitution of Belarus.
The large-scale event at the Palace of Independence was attended by judges of the Constitutional Court, individuals who contributed to the formation of sovereign Belarus, representatives of political parties and public organizations, parliamentarians, and scientists.
Alexander Lukashenko delivered a speech at the event, touching upon both the historical foundations of Belarusian constitutional legislation and the modern stage, outlining the achievements of sovereign Belarus and emphasizing its independent path of development.
"Today our country celebrates Constitution Day. It is an occasion to talk about serious matters and, secondly, to pay tribute to this fundamental document of our lives.
30 years ago on this day, the countdown of a new stage in the history of modern Belarus began – sovereign and politically independent. It was then that the fundamental legal foundations for the development of our state and society were laid.
Think about it: 30 years ago. In the history of the world, of humanity – this is just a moment. But for us – those who have been building our country all these years – it is a whole life. A difficult, contradictory life, sometimes on the verge of possibilities, but undoubtedly interesting and, most importantly, a life given entirely to our beloved country. And on this path, the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus has become our guide, a truly people's state-building document, which was especially evident during our referendums.
We have something to remember, something to tell those who have grown up all this time and are now standing beside us, sharing responsibility for the future of Belarus. That is why we have gathered together today – representatives of different generations and different fields of activity: judges of the Constitutional Court, managers, public figures, leaders of political parties, scientists, people's elected representatives.
Each of those present in this hall, in different years, has directly or indirectly participated in the development and improvement of the first and only Constitution of sovereign Belarus, and in the implementation of its provisions in all areas of state and public life. Behind us are thousands upon thousands of people, equally active participants in this process.
Together with the Basic Law, we, the generation of modern Belarusians, have entered history. The history of the formation of national statehood. But at the same time, we are aware that our Basic Law was not born on barren, empty soil.
I treat continuity with care and have always said that without traditions, there is no nation, no state. This is a matter of the continuity of the people's history and the preservation of cultural code. To be more specific: this is a matter of our sacred connection with previous generations and those who will come after us.
Although Belarus is a young state, Belarusians are an absolutely mature nation. This status cannot be challenged. Just as the fact that our Constitution embodies the achievements of many eras.
Lukashenko: Although Belarus is a young state, Belarusians are an absolutely mature nation
On the one hand, this document is a contemporary of sovereign Belarus. On the other hand, it is the result of centuries of experience in the development of legal traditions and state-building in our land. Therefore, the 30th anniversary of the Basic Law is an occasion to analyze the entire path traveled, especially now, when humanity is on the verge of a global change of eras, just as it was a third of a century ago.
Today, it is extremely important not only to know and understand but also to clearly articulate historical facts that are part of the national self-awareness of Belarusians. To constantly repeat them, both for ourselves and for those who follow us. There are many such facts, and all of them are important.
Lukashenko: The Constitution of Belarus contains a piece of the tradition of the Polotsk Veche
Certainly, our Basic Law contains a particle of the tradition of the Polotsk Veche. Perhaps, from today's perspective, not the most democratic one. Only men participated in the popular assembly, but they were representatives of the common people. And in critical moments of history, they decided who to rule, who to trade with, and with whom to fight. In modern terms, it was at the Veche that the most important strategic development decisions were made – not by the will of one person, the prince, but with the consent of the residents.
By the way, we have constitutionally enshrined similar powers for the delegates of the All-Belarusian People's Assembly. We also did this with the consent of the people – by an absolute majority of votes. In fact, we have thus created a mechanism that will prevent the authorities from becoming detached from the people in the future.
We have established a constitutional barrier against so-called elitism, which Belarusians reject on a genetic level from the very time when our ancestors came under the rule of Lithuanian and Polish elites, losing the traditions of popular governance.
There was a lot of noise around the Statutes of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in our time. Yes, for that period, they were progressive (these statutes) and significantly influenced the development of legislation in all European states. But in history, these documents remained as laws reflecting the interests of exclusively the rich and noble people, further exacerbating social inequality. Of course, not in form, but in fact.
I won't even mention the Constitution of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, where there was simply no place for guarantees of the rights of our people. And the period of our lands being part of the Russian Empire did not leave any significant mark on the Belarusian legal tradition.
Therefore, it is important to remember that ideologically and conceptually, the Constitution of sovereign Belarus is a successor to the Constitution of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic – a revolutionary, progressive, and, most importantly, fair document.
Then, in 1919, for the first time in world history, the natural wealth of the native land was recognized as the property of all people. It was the Soviet Constitution, also for the first time in history, that outlawed the exploitation of man by man and thereby placed under protection the life and dignity of people regardless of ethnic origin, social status, and religion. This is the principle of social justice, which was supported by all Soviet constitutions, and which we have preserved as fundamental in our lives.
Speaking about the 1994 Constitution, adopted by the Supreme Soviet, we must, of course, mention the borrowing of experience from the leading countries of the world. Remember, at that time we were running after the leading countries of the world, copying them. After several decades, we realized that we didn't need to run after them at all. We saw the true face of these countries, their true "democracy." And only a blind person would not see this.
We reflected all the most important attributes of a democratic system, such as the separation of powers, legality in the activities of state bodies, and additional guarantees for the realization of human rights and freedoms, in the text of our then Constitution.
A Constitutional Court was established to control the constitutionality of normative acts. The protection of the constitutional order was made a crucial element of the political system.
Following the Basic Law, we built a balanced and effective management vertical practically from scratch. Not immediately. Not without emotions. And not without attempts by foreign "helpers" to take control of the process.
Today, speaking about the Constitution, we see a document that reflects our national interests. But this is today.
Many of those present in this hall remember what was happening when the amendments to the 1994 Constitution were being drafted and discussed, what was happening on the streets, in the corridors of power, where there was also a struggle for portfolios. Just think: a parliamentary republic, the country does not yet exist. That is, there is no ideology of national development, the goals of this development have not been set. There is no management system. Mechanisms for interaction between different structures have not been developed.
And in such realities, the country is actually managed by 360 deputies, including myself. Absolutely blurred responsibility. I saw this from the inside. Few people in the 1990s cared that people at enterprises had not received wages for months. Who was worried about empty shelves in stores? Few people.
At the same time, with the total poverty of the population, we had natural resources, an impressive production potential. And convenient conditions were created for the privatization of this wealth by non-our - Western capital: there was a mess in the country, and Belarusians had not yet had time to think about national interests, about the essence of sovereignty. Almost no one in the people reasoned in such categories: some thought about how to feed their children, others - how to keep their jobs, positions.
What chances did we have to preserve our cultural, economic, and political subjectivity? A rhetorical question.
I will not go into further detail. Many of you have seen all this. As the people say, you've been through it, you know. And it's not the theme of today's festive day.
Recalling that period, I once again want to thank our people. The people who believed us, the romantics, supported us in the referendums. And ultimately stopped the scenario of permanent destruction of the nation and national statehood prepared for us.
The decisions adopted by the people reflected the entire essence of the historical moment that spanned a third of a century. In this course of events, the essence of the national character of Belarusians also manifested itself - prudent, responsible, far-sighted.
From today's perspective, looking back, I want to ask: what were we wrong about when we adopted the advanced experience of constitutional development into our lives and refracted it through the experience historically traversed by our ancestors? And what did we do wrong when defending our history, values, traditions, and our historical memory? After all, if we draw parallels, we will see that all our transformations stemmed from life itself, dictated by the times.
We always consulted with the people. And the people responded to the challenges thrown at the country by coming out for referendums, voting in elections. They responded with an absolute majority of votes, and in compliance with the law. Everything is more than democratic.
Biased politicians imposed a scheme of systemic chaos and actual anarchy on society – the form of a parliamentary republic. But the people chose in favor of strong power.
They tried to divide us along linguistic and ethnic lines, but Belarusians acted as a united people in support of the state status of our two native languages.
They wanted to cut us off from our roots by discrediting the Soviet past, but people, understanding that they are heirs of the heroic generation of victors, returned to the symbols of a great era.
Into what unions was Belarus not dragged in order to break friendly and close integration ties, primarily with Russia. But the people did not allow it. And where are those who broke away from the East Slavic family now? Where are those peoples?
We created our own history. We wrote our own laws ourselves – as we knew how then and as we understand now. Therefore, we have been living for a third of a century under informational, political, and economic pressure.
All this time, abroad, only the lazy have not called Lukashenko a dictator and an authoritarian President. Fine, let them call him that. What matters is what we have as a result: undiluted national wealth, preserved sovereignty, security and peace on our native land, and growth in the well-being of our citizens. Peace, tranquility, and quiet for ordinary people.
And now, perfecting the Basic Law in 2021-2022, we have also responded to the challenges of the time. People saw that the risks of losing the institution of the traditional family, our moral values, and historical memory had increased, and they placed these values under protection at the highest level – the level of the Basic Law.
It is clear that it is not enough to prescribe guarantees, responsibility, powers, and so on in legal novelties. They must be made into a real practice. We are doing everything that was promised 30 years ago. And what we promised, by and large, we have fulfilled. Because there is someone to ask and someone to answer to.
"What matters is what we have in the end." Lukashenko on his reputation as a dictator abroad
We have constitutionally enshrined the right of everyone to a decent standard of living. And these are not declarations, but our real policy and real achievements. Allow me to present a few figures and facts, and you can draw your own conclusions.
Over these three decades, the monetary incomes of the population have increased more than 9 times (compared to the mid-1990s), and wages – 12 times.
Do you remember the hyperinflation we had after the collapse of the Soviet Union? Today, its level does not exceed 6%.
The housing provision for citizens is growing: the number of square meters per inhabitant has increased 1.6 times.
Belarus has one of the lowest poverty rates in the population. I generally cannot imagine – what poverty? If you want to earn more today, work three jobs. Today, we are no longer talking about unemployment; today, we are talking about a labor shortage. Well, even if we measure our lives by these indicators – poverty and so on – it is the lowest not only among the CIS countries but also among the European Union states. Since the early 1990s, we have reduced this indicator tenfold. We have significantly reduced the unemployment rate.
We are among the countries with a high level of human development. Belarusians are recognized as a highly intellectual nation. All these are not our data, but theirs – our adversaries'.
Next. We rationally invest in innovations and future technologies, thereby increasing the competitiveness of the Belarusian economy. This is the best guarantee for our lives.
We have built the Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant, successfully completed the first stage of construction of the Belarusian National Biotechnology Corporation. We have mastered and are mass-producing new products: passenger cars, electric buses and electric trains, unmanned quarry trucks. We are building and constantly commissioning new metro lines.
We are rational in financial matters, we do not allow ourselves to accumulate and shift our debts onto future generations. Our public debt does not exceed 32% of gross domestic product. It is no secret that in a number of highly developed countries this figure is several times higher.
We have created a modern, highly productive agricultural sector. We have entered the top 5 exporters of dairy products, and we are among the world leaders in meat production per capita (we are in the top ten).
And in general, we export almost 65% of Belarusian industrial products. If everything were so bad (with the quality of domestic products. - Editorial note BELTA), they wouldn't buy it abroad.
This development dynamic of sovereign Belarus hardly corresponds to the plans and expectations of those who call our country "not democratic enough." I have already said: we now understand what democracy means in their understanding. We remember what it means to be a democratic country in the eyes of this very West - as in the early 1990s, to be weak, poor, humiliated. Then to run, like some of our neighbors, through squares, streets, changing power like gloves, to live at the beck and call of Washington...
If we have to choose between the favor of Western European politicians and the quality of life of Belarusians, our national dignity and sovereignty, then the choice is obvious.
Dear friends!
Exactly 30 years ago, I repeat, the countdown of the history of independent Belarus began. Approaching this round date, we look back at the path traveled in order to step more confidently into tomorrow.
It is very important to see the real and concrete results of the decisions we have made. It is even more important to see the prospects.
Our Constitution provides the opportunity to live with dignity, to develop, to feel secure, to realize the boldest plans and initiatives on our native land. This is how it should be in a modern democratic, truly democratic country.
And most importantly, we have done everything possible for our children to surpass these achievements and successes. We will continue to help. Now it is up to the new generations.
I will say more. Despite today's difficulties and all the vicissitudes, I have strong reasons to look confidently into the future. This confidence is inspired by our cohesive work on the latest constitutional amendments, our recent active election campaign, and our sound perception of global political upheavals and military conflicts.
Together, we will have to continue a more substantive discussion about the new challenges that time poses to us. In one way or another, they all concern the preservation of our values, cultural and spiritual priorities, and the definition of the state's development goals in the face of new geopolitical risks (they are considerable, we talk about this a lot). We will do this during the All-Belarusian People's Assembly, formed in accordance with the updated Constitution. In short, we have a lot to do, a grand undertaking.
But today, on this festive day, I, like all of us present here, am interested to hear how you, all of us who were at the origins of the creation of sovereign Belarus, those who are active participants in the political process, assess the path we have taken, how you see the country in the future. This could be the beginning of a great conversation, which, as I have already said, will be continued at the All-Belarusian People's Assembly – a very responsible, decisive moment in our history. In this regard, I want to thank our veterans, who are not getting old, who touched upon the construction and directly built our sovereign and independent Belarus. I want to thank you for the colossal support, above all – for understanding what is happening in our lives. Thank you."