Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s team continues to share details of the New Belarus Strategy, developed by Ms. Tsikhanouskaya’s Office in partnership with the United Transitional Cabinet, the Coordination Council, and numerous experts. Today, we analyze the public administration system prescribed in the document and clarify the points that Belarusians have asked questions about during the public discussion.
6 QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION SYSTEM
NEW BELARUS STRATEGY
- HOW WILL THE POLITICAL SYSTEM IN THE NEW BELARUS CHANGE?
The new Belarus will have a parliamentary system of government, in which the parliamentary majority appoints the prime minister. The heads of local executive bodies will be elected directly by citizens or local councils. The president will have representative functions.
The strategy proposes to establish supervisory bodies to control the government, state organizations, and officials, with the parliament appointing the members of these bodies. These bodies are needed to inform parliament and the public (and, if necessary, law enforcement agencies and the judiciary) about officials and bodies evading the fulfillment of their functions.
- WHAT WILL CHANGE IN THE RELATIONS BETWEEN PEOPLE AND THE AUTHORITIES AFTER THE DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION?
The new system will protect the people from the pressure of government officials and supervisory bodies. Restrictions affecting entrepreneurship will be removed. The state will welcome personal initiatives.
The reform process will include two stages:
- Transit of power itself, lasting 180 days. During this time, a basic environment will be created and the first truly democratic elections will be held.
- Next stage, lasting five years. It will include the period from the first to the second democratic elections and be the period of basic reforms.
- WHY DOES BELARUS NEED A TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT? WHAT ARE ITS FUNCTIONS?
Belarus will need time to organize an election campaign after the transition of power.
For this period, to avoid political chaos, the government will be formed according to a special procedure. Its composition will depend on the scenario of the transition to democracy.
For example, if the transition stems from negotiations, the government will include representatives of the various political forces participating in the dialogue.
- THE TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT IS NEEDED TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT FOR FREE ELECTIONS IN 180 DAYS AFTER THE TRANSITION.
- HOW WILL THE INTEGRITY AND TRANSPARENCY OF THE ELECTIONS BE GUARANTEED?
The Central Election Commission will be composed of people who have credibility in the society and represent the competing political forces.
Transparent vote counting will be mandatory: every vote cast will be visible to all election commission members and observers during vote counting. The election will be monitored by an international mission led by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights.
- WHAT PROBLEMS MAY ARISE IN HOLDING FREE ELECTIONS?
Political forces concerned about a fair election campaign must come to power. For this to happen, the current regime, which is built on rigged elections, must be changed.
Before the start of the campaign, the political forces have to agree on the powers of the authorities during whose rule the elections will be held. Today’s Belarusian president has the powers of a dictator, while the parliament has no powers. Fair elections will not bring the country closer to democracy if the current system of government is preserved.
Conditions for holding fair elections must be created. Among other things, they must include:
- the release of political prisoners from prisons;
- restoration of their rights allowing them to participate in elections;
- restoration of the rights of liquidated parties and civil society organizations;
- restoration of the registration of independent media outlets and removal of restrictions against independent media channels;
- reforms of the electoral legislation.
- WILL INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS PARTICIPATE IN POLITICAL PROCESSES DURING THE TRANSITION PERIOD?
Belarus will need substantial international support during the transitional period. This includes the lifting of sanctions, funding of reforms, and restructuring of the state debt.
Therefore, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and members of the United Transitional Cabinet are already engaged in a dialogue with foreign governments and international organizations on such support during the country’s transition to democracy.
