Aleksandr Lukashenko holds meeting with Presiding Judge of Constitutional Court Piotr Miklashevich

President of the Republic of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko met with Presiding Judge of the Belarusian Constitutional Court Piotr Miklashevich on 31 January. The head of state praised the efforts of the Constitutional Court to strengthen constitutional legality in 2012.

Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked that the Constitutional Court needs to exercise control over the implementation of the Address of the Constitutional Court to the President of the Republic of Belarus, the House of the Representatives and the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly “Concerning the state of constitutional legality in the Republic of Belarus in 2012”.

“You have submitted the document regarding the state of the constitutional legality in Belarus in 2012. I have sent a relevant resolution to all the bodies to implement this document. Take it under control. Inform me about the fulfillment of government proposals set forth in your document. This is the main thing,” the President said.

“If, for example, the government, courts and other government bodies do not react to exposed shortcomings, perhaps, you need to engage me in this process. It is inadmissible when the Constitutional Court recommends to react to certain problems but no measures are taken,” the head of state noted.

Participants of the meetings pointed out that it is necessary to step up constitutional control over lawmaking in order to raise the efficiency of law in various fields. In the near future the Parliament is expected to pass a draft bill on constitutional legal proceedings initiated by the President. The new procedural basis will make the activity of the Constitutional Court to approve constitutional legality of lawmaking and law enforcement more effective.

Aleksandr Lukashenko was also interested in the quality of draft laws approved by the Parliament. “What is the situation with the laws? In your opinion, how does the Parliament work? And how do you evaluate its potential?”

According to Piotr Miklashevich, the Constitutional Court checked all the laws passed by the Parliament as part of the preliminary constitutional control. The audit proved that these documents comply with the norms and principles of the Constitution.

While working on the Address of the Constitutional Court to the President, the House of Representatives and the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly “Concerning the state of the constitutional legality in the Republic of Belarus in 2012” the Constitutional Court analyzed the situation using cases tried last year. Moreover, the Constitutional Court received about 1,000 appeals from people and organizations. On the basis of a number of appeals the Constitutional Court made decisions aimed at overcoming gaps, eliminating collisions and legal uncertainty.

The head of state was also informed about the international cooperation of the Constitutional Court with similar bodies in other countries, the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe. The parties also harmonized the issue of delegating Deputy Presiding Judge of the Constitutional Court Olga Sergeyeva to the Venice Commission as Belarus’ representative.

The meeting also focused on the preparation for the 20^th anniversary of the Constitutional Court which will be marked in 2014. The Constitutional Court is going to hold an international forum and invite colleagues from Europe and post-Soviet countries. At the forum the Constitutional Court will demonstrate what has been done to ensure supremacy of the Constitution, protect rights and liberties of citizens and exchange experience with foreign colleagues.