Aliaksandr Lukashenka has signed a new law changing the procedure for establishing political parties. The goal here is simple: to completely clear out politics for his own benefit, not to make it more open.
In late 2022, Lukashenka openly stated that only the parties that align with his policy should operate in the country. In February 2023, he forced all parties to undergo re-registration, after which the regime liquidated 12 political forces. Now, he is continuing the same process, only this time through another “improvement” of the law.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Lukashenka does not need political parties. He fears any competition; he fears that he would simply lose in any fair election and that people would choose someone other than him. Political parties, by their nature, give people the opportunity to unite so that society can make its own political choice. He stole people’s right to choose, and now he is trying to legalize it”.
In response, the democratic forces propose an alternative approach. The Draft Law on Political Parties proposes simplified party registration, lower requirements for the number of founders, and state funding depending on election results.
The document also enshrines internal party democracy – elected leadership, transparent financing, and regular audits. Its goal is to create a genuine multi-party system, where participation in politics becomes a right rather than a privilege.
