Belarus Signals Lukashenko Won’t Cede Any Real Power at Congress
- Prime Minister says delegates plan to back a strong president
- Support for Belarusian opposition has flagged amid crackdown
Alexander Lukashenko
Photographer: Andrei Stasevich/Pool/AP Photo
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Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is set to keep most of his presidential powers at a planned congress next week that he called to discuss constitutional changes in response to unprecedented protests against his 26-year rule.
Delegates at the two-day Belarusian People’s Congress that starts Feb. 11 are not willing to “destroy” the constitution, Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko said to a group of journalists from state media at a press conference Wednesday.