Belarusian president signs referendum decision to amend constitution

As many as 78.63% of the eligible voters took part in th

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has signed the referendum verdict on constitutional amendments, according to the Belarus 1 TV channel, which is broadcasting the ceremony at the Independence Palace on Friday, Qazet.az reports.

On March 3, the country’s Central Election Commission approved the results of the referendum on amendments and additions to the constitution, which were supported by 82.86% of the voters.

The amended constitution will come into force on March 15. "On February 27, 2022, a referendum took place. The absolute majority of citizens upheld the constitutional amendments. This means that this event will go down in textbooks as another milestone in the country’s development. And this is highly symbolic that the amended basic law will come into effect on March 15, which is the Belarus Constitution Day," the head of state noted.

As many as 78.63% of the eligible voters took part in the referendum on February 27.

The constitutional commission proposed to amend about half of the basic law’s articles. The changes are aimed at clarifying the functions and powers of the president, parliament and government while retaining the presidential form of government. Also, the All-Belarusian People’s Assembly, established in 1996 on Lukashenko’s initiative, is going to become a constitutional body and receive some additional powers.

According to Chairman of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly Vladimir Andreichenko, during this year, the parliamentarians plan to develop a law on a new representative body of power - the All-Belarusian People’s Assembly. The parliament will also need to rework about 20 codes and about 60 laws.

The current Constitution, which was adopted on March 15, 1994, was amended and supplemented twice during referendums held in 1996 and 2004.