Belarus to vote on constitutional changes to host nuclear weapons and effectively make Lukashenka a dictator – Russia pushed to the brink
Lukashenka, 67, has proposed amending the constitution, the third time he has done so since coming to power in 1994, that would allow him to rule to 2035, offer him a new lever of power, and abolish a section of the document defining Belarus as a “nuclear free zone,” possibly paving the way for the return of Russian nuclear weapons to Belarus.
Lukashenka proposed the constitutional changes following domestic and international backlash over his violent crackdown on dissent after a disputed August 2020 presidential election that he claims gave him a sixth consecutive term. The opposition says the vote was rigged.
The revamped All-Belarus People’s Assembly, if the changes are approved as expected, would act as a parallel structure next to parliament, holding wide-ranging powers to approve foreign, security, and economic policy. It would also be able to propose changes to the constitution, draft laws, and select members of the country’s Central Election Commission and judges of the top courts.
According to the proposed amendments, a sitting president automatically becomes a delegate of the 1,200-seat assembly and may chair it if elected by other delegates.
The proposed changes also would give Lukashenka immunity from prosecution and put in place a limit of two terms in office, each for five years. However, the restrictions would only apply going forward, meaning Lukashenka could rule until he is 81 years old.
The amendments would also prohibit anyone who temporarily left the country in the last 20 years from becoming president, a change aimed directly at opposition members, many of whom were forced into exile to avoid political persecution.
Looks like Ukraine’s insistence on NATO membership has pushed eastern Europe back into the cold war.
If the constitutional change is passed in Belarus, it would mean that Belarus’ President Lukashenka will be effectively “king or dictator” of Belarus, as he would be able to pass laws on his own.
The change removing Belarus has a nuclear free zone would pave the way for Russia to place nuclear weapons in Belarus in a direct threat against NATO countries. This is probably in line with the perception Putin (Russian President) have in the West’s hidden agenda in getting Ukraine into the military alliance.
8 years of sanctions due to the annexation of Crimea had crushed Russia’s economy and GDP.
The west unwillingness to take Russia concerns of their national security into their deliberation onto how to deal with Russia and their actions, had now pushing Russia to their limits. Current talks of cutting Russia out of the SWIFT banking system would literally push the “bear” to the corner – giving Putin little other options but to resort to war.
A major military country with a failed economy often resorts to war. Nazi Germany started their military campaign because on the impending economy doom after they had overspent to “rejuvenate” themselves into the “Third Reich” – war erases debt and resets financial/economic conditions – provided if one wins the world.
An economically depleted Russia with it’s leadership and control intact would mean a more militarily aggressive Russia. A nuclear armed militarily aggressive Russia to be accurate.
It might not be long before NATO starting to consider an aggressive war, should things continue to go out of control as per the Ukraine crisis. We can only hope for the best now.