Denis Melyantsev: " One can talk about modernization of our political system after the elections"



On the eve of the 20th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between Belarus and China the head of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said in the interview to a leading Chinese media that he leaves open the possibility of modernizing the political system in the country. The reporter of www.Euramost.org talks to a political analyst Denis MELYANTSEV about the possible directions according which the political system of Belarus can be upgraded, and if it is theoretically possible.

Alexander
Lukashenko believes that it is necessary to respond to the changing
international situation. "So we are now studying certain trends in the
world. And, of course, we will adapt and modernize our political system. We
will hold parliamentary elections. And I think that we should pay serious
attention to a political reform, or reform of the political system of our
country, - he said. - We'll do this, although we don’t have any disaster in
this sphere. But we must always be one step ahead of the processes that will
happen in our country. I'm talking about this for the first time, but I was
thinking over this question for a long time and was discussing these issues.
And we will move in that direction slowly".

However, he said: "The main thing is to maintain stability, enable a
person to live a normal life and express his or her opinion. The main thing is
to give people the opportunity to preserve their fundamental rights to which they
appeal and which they are to have."

- Judging by the fact that it has been said about the reforms to Chinese
journalists, we can assume that perhaps he meant the transformation of the
political system according to the Chinese principle, - says the analyst. - This
is an economic liberalization with maintaining the current government ruling by
the political elite. I leave open the possibility That the conversation was
about the former ideas to transform ​​the Belarusian political system to a parliamentary republic. Then everyone would be
happy, especially that the opposition from year to year claims that elections
should be conducted on party lists. Europe has also repeatedly stressed the
need for such a scheme, and in the former Soviet Union such a system of managed
democracy has been tested by Russia. There is a ruling party, a few small
parties and a large entry threshold to the parliament. But the fact that there will
be party lists does not mean that opposition necessarily will get there.
Although this would be a good external message to Europe, and the European
Union seeing that some changes are taking place, that the opposition has a
chance, can mitigate some positions. And, maybe, these statements are just a
reaction - how the opposition and the public will react to changes in
governance. However, today it's just words. It is important, what actions will
follow the statements. One can talk about modernization of our political system
after the elections. Elections are also a test. Everything will get clear there.

- Can the Chinese model of political governance, as they say, naturalize in
Belarus?

- Of course, Belarus and China have slightly different starting points. China is
a communist country, where there is a strong party and a strong communist
ideology. In Belarus, there is only a word "ideology" without any meaning.
But I think the system which would be based on a liberal economy would be
viable even in an authoritarian political regime. There are many such-kind
examples in Latin America and other countries around the world. It all depends
on how you rebuild the system functioning.

Alexander Samusevich.