One more referendum ahead?



According to some forecasts, the year 2006 might become the year of the unification of Russia and Belarus into single „confederate state“ (including the adoption of the Constitution Act).

The unification of the two states has been continuing for many years. We all remember the embraces of Jelcin and Lukashenka upon signing the Agreement on the Confederation of Russia and Belarus, as well as speeches of „papa“ on brotherhood of two nations and the necessity to unify their efforts. But we also remember the words of Lukashenka that Belarus will never become the 90th subject of the Russian Federation, or these sarcastic remarks of Putin that „flies and rissoles have to live separately“.

On 4 September, Aleksandr Milinkevich, the leader of the democratic forces of Belarus and ex-candidate to presidents, said, while addressing the Byelorussians, that most probably very soon a referendum will be held on the draft Constitutional act of the „Confederate state and establishment of the single state with Russia“.
Pavel Borodin, the state secretary of the Confederation of Belarus and Russia, has confirmed the words of the leader of democratic forces during the press-conference on 21 September. He said that referendum on the Constitutional Act can be held even in December 2006. He added that the above document will be discussed during the meeting of the Supreme Council of the Confederate state, which will take place at the end of October - beginning of November.

During the above meeting the following issues will be discussed: the structure of power in the Confederate state, delegation of authorities to the single confederate center as well as the term for election of the confederate parliament. Let us remind you that the Byelorussian vertical wants „the Supreme Council“ on the top of „Confederation“ and two presidents with equal rights. However, Moscow is insisting on one president in the new state and one deputy president (vice-president). It is obvious that Putin wants, by means of getting the new position, to extend his power and be the “almighty” of two, instead of one country.

By the way, according to experts, referendum on the Constitutional Act will hardly take place this year. The matter is that in December of next year (specifically on 2 December) the Parliamentary elections will be held in Russia. According to the Russian legislation, it is forbidden to organize referendum within a year before the elections.

Viacheslav Grunskij