Lukashenka insists that he has right to dissolve Supreme Soviet

1996-10-30 20:40

Minsk, 30 October. "If the Constitutional Court finds that the Supreme Soviet acts in violation to the constitution, I will have the right to dissolve the Supreme Soviet," Alyaksandr Lukashenka told reporters while visiting the village of Chysts near Maladzyechna on October 30. The talk was about the November 1 session of the Constitutional Court where the constitutionality of the Supreme Soviet's resolution concerning the referendum scheduled for November 24, including the constitutional changes proposed by the president and by members of the parliamentary factions of Agrarians and Communists for the referendum, will be examined. Under the constitution currently in force, only constitutional amendments may be adopted through a national referendum. There is a strong possibility that the Constitutional Court will find these constitutional changes to be new constitutions because they are intended to bring radical changes into the state system and may upset the balance between the branches of power. The president said that if the Constitutional Court found the Supreme Soviet's resolution unconstitutional, he would have the right to dissolve the Supreme Soviet on the grounds of a flagrant violation of the constitution. Reference here is made by the president to the May 1995 referendum in which a majority voted for giving the president the authority to dissolve the Supreme Soviet. However, it should be noted that the referendum question concerning the dissolution of Parliament was of a consultative nature, i.e. not binding, whereas neither the constitution currently in force nor other regulations give this right to the president.
Nevertheless, Mr. Lukashenka pointed out that "there is some field left for a compromise, though it is narrow. We should follow the path of compromises because I do not need this heating up of the situation. I need to work. However, if someone wants to destabilize the situation and to blow up it, well, I am sorry, I should exercise my power sometime. Enough of it. People want to live in peace and work." As Mr. Lukashenka said, he does not believe that "the Constitutional Court judges will absolutely lose their heads."
"I believe that these people have a sober and sane heads on their shoulders," he said. "You see it is impossible to stop the train because it is on an absolutely legal way to the referendum. Those who lie across will certainly be run over. Do not they understand this worldly wisdom? That is why I do not want even to talk about any measures which I will take. I just do not believe that the Constitutional Court may so easily trample not only the president's opinion and the will of the president as the Chief of State, but also people, may trample the Belarusian people. If someone intends to do so, I am the guarantor of the constitution, I am the defender of the people, I will not allow them to do so."