FTUB comes out against concentration of power in one's hands

1996-10-22 16:40

Minsk, 22 October. The Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus (FTUB) is opposed to the excessive concentration of powers in one's hands, and therefore does not support the constitutional changes proposed by President Alyaksandr Lukashenka, FTUB Chairman Uladzimir Hancharyk, one of the 11 delegates to the All-Belarusian People's Assembly who voted against its resolution, said at an October 22 news conference. In his opinion, the balance between the branches of power should by no means be upset. It is essential to have effective interaction between the branches rather than their clear-cut separation on which the president lays special stress in his proposals, Mr. Hancharyk said. As he pointed out, the idea to establish a bicameral legislature is also disputable, as it does not correspond to the historic traditions and national features of Belarus which is an unitary state, and may play the role of a Trojan horse in the future. The FTUB leader holds that apart from the lawmaking function, Parliament should exercise control over the observance of law, including the implementation of the state budget. Otherwise, it turns into a "decorative" body.
Mr. Hancharyk also criticized the constitutional amendment prohibiting the establishment and activities, including those of public associations, which carry on "propaganda of social enmity." He said that anything may be regarded as enmity, if necessary.
All these remarks were listed in a letter which Mr. Hancharyk sent to the president. He proposed that the president issue a decree to form a conciliatory commission consisting of representatives of the Presidential Administration, the Supreme Soviet and other bodies, as well as delegates to the All-Belarusian People's Assembly. This commission should alter the president's draft constitution.
As Mr. Hancharyk stressed, the holding the referendum is still in question because the Constitutional Court has not yet made any decision as regards the constitutional changes proposed by the president. Mr. Hancharyk repeated MP Mechyslaw Hryb's statement, who said that the constitutional amendments proposed by both the president and Parliament are none other than new constitutions, that is why they may not be adopted through a national referendum.