During the preparation of the forum, the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko repeatedly emphasized the special significance and status of the upcoming event, because although it will be the seventh All-Belarusian People’s Assembly, it will be its first meeting in its new capacity, as recorded in the updated Constitution. “Yes, this is the seventh convocation, but it is special, it is constitutional. Therefore, it is very important to hold it at the highest level both externally and in content,” Alexander Lukashenko emphasized. “It should be solemn and, most importantly, meaningful.”
According to the law, the maximum number of delegates to the All-Belarusian People’s Assembly is 1,200 people. More than 700 guests have also been invited to the event. Delegates from different regions of the country will gather in Minsk – representatives of the legislative, executive and judicial authorities, local councils of deputies, and civil society.
It is planned that the Head of the Belarusian State will address the delegates and guests of the forum. As he himself noted in a conversation with journalists, the All-Belarusian People’s Assembly should begin with a compact report by the President on the situation in the world, the country’s economy, existing challenges and threats. “And then, based on this, – personnel, and our defense doctrine, and so on,” he noted.
The All-Belarusian People’s Assembly has been held in Belarus since 1996. Then, in a difficult time for the country of intense political struggle and socio-economic troubles, President Alexander Lukashenko appealed to the people for support, convening the first All-Belarusian People’s Assembly. The decisions taken at that assembly, and a month later at the referendum, formed the political image of modern Belarus, modernized the structure of power, and set clear guidelines for the country’s development.
Since then, it has become a tradition to hold the All-Russian People’s Council every five years, where strategic issues in the life of the country are considered with the broad participation of government and society representatives. Similar people’s forums were also held in 2001, 2006, 2010, 2016, and 2021.
The roots of this tradition lie deep in the history of the country. The most difficult issues have been resolved at the people’s assembly on Belarusian lands since ancient times.
Currently, the Supreme People’s Assembly is the highest representative body of people’s power in the Republic of Belarus, determining strategic directions for the development of society and the state, ensuring the inviolability of the constitutional order, the continuity of generations and civil harmony. In other words, it is a collective mind, called upon to choose the optimal variant of the country’s development, stabilize society at all stages of its development and exercise serious people’s constitutional control over all processes in the country.
On the other hand, the All-Belarusian People’s Assembly with its new powers still has to carefully find its place in the modern social structure in practice. This will be discussed, among other things, at the upcoming meeting.
A special feature of the new status of the All-Belarusian People’s Assembly is that now this body will hold meetings not once every five years, but at least once a year. The term of office of the All-Belarusian People’s Assembly is five years.
The upcoming meeting will consider both organizational issues related to the work of the All-Belarusian People’s Assembly itself (it is necessary to elect a counting commission, the chairman of the All-Belarusian People’s Assembly, a deputy chairman, the presidium of the All-Belarusian People’s Assembly – a permanent working body, and adopt temporary work regulations), and documents important for the country.
These are the updated National Security Concept and the Military Doctrine – fundamental documents regulating the state’s approaches to ensuring its own security in various areas, taking into account geopolitical changes in the world, the state’s main views on peace and war, the use of military force in response to existing challenges and threats. At the same time, continuity and the main message about the peace-loving nature of the Belarusian people are generally preserved.
The All-Belarusian People’s Assembly is vested with the right to approve the main directions of domestic and foreign policy, military doctrine, and the concept of national security; approve programs of socio-economic development of the Republic of Belarus; hear the Prime Minister on the implementation of programs of socio-economic development of the Republic of Belarus. The All-Belarusian People’s Assembly is vested with the right of legislative initiative.
