Differences between legislature, executive branches getting bitter

1996-10-31 11:15

Minsk, 31 October. President Alyaksandr Lukashenka has suggested that the lawmakers follow the decisions made by the All-Belarusian People's Assembly on October 20, Anton Matusevich, director of the Institute of State Construction and Law under the Supreme Soviet, told BelaPAN.
Delegates to the Assembly almost unanimously seconded President Lukashenka's proposal to hold a national referendum, and welcomed the constitutional changes proposed by him. They suggested that the Supreme Soviet "withdraw the questions proposed for the referendum by members of the parliamentary factions of Agrarians and Communists, including their draft constitutional amendments intended to abolish the post of President of the Republic of Belarus, and therefore contradicting the will of the people who elected the president."
Presidential Decree No. 442 titled, "On Measures to Ensure the Preparation and Conducting of a National Referendum on November 24, 1996" does not mention the alternative draft amendments at all. However, the Supreme Soviet's resolution titled, "On the Conducting of a National Referendum and Measures for Its Organization" dated from September 6, reads that two draft constitutional amendments will be put to the referendum. Asked which document - the president's decree or Parliament's resolution - is binding for the Central Commission for Elections and Referenda, Mr. Matusevich said, "Under the constitution, the Supreme Soviet is the body to decide on referenda. Referendum-related decisions made by other bodies may not be taken into consideration."
The Supreme Soviet has the right to alter its September 6 resolution before November 24, and put new versions of the proposed constitutional changes because work on both draft constitutions are still under way at present, Mr. Matusevich added.