Meeting with Chairwoman of Council of Republic of National Assembly Natalya Kochanova

Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko met with Chairwoman of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly Natalya Kochanova to discuss the process of forming the new composition of the upper chamber of the Belarusian parliament.

Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “As for the House of Representatives [the lower chamber of the Belarusian parliament], work is in progress over there on matters concerning the beginning of work of the new MPs. A lot of work. All the relevant instructions have been given.”

First of all, the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus will have to elect its leadership and chairpersons of the commissions. The necessary organizational support will be provided. It is up to the MPs to do the rest of the work later on. “I want MPs to determine on their own how they have to live and work,” the head of state said.

In turn, the Council of the Republic consists of representatives of specific territories. Every oblast and the city of Minsk have to elect eight members of the Council of the Republic each at sessions of municipal councils of deputies by secret ballot. Another eight members of the upper chamber are appointed by the Belarus president.

The nomination of candidates to the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus will begin on 12 March and has to end on 21 March at the latest. The actual elections to the Council of the Republic are supposed to take place on 4 April 2024.

The Belarusian leader said: “All of it has to be very democratic. And honest. Not for the sake of submitting a report to someone. There is no need to report to anyone except our own people. The process has to be proper and without any red tape. After all, the upper chamber of the parliament is kind of an expert council. It is supposed to peruse one more time the bills passed by the House of Representatives. This is why it is necessary to look closely at the nominated candidates, who will be elected by the relevant councils.”

The Council of the Republic has a total of five permanent commissions. Aleksandr Lukashenko drew attention to the selection of candidates to fill positions of the chairpersons of the commissions: “These five people together with the chairperson and the deputy [chairperson of the Council of the Republic] will represent the core of the upper chamber.”

“I’d like to know how the work has been organized because it is already in progress and what the problems are. From the point of view of whether I need to get involved to address some issues or not. It is necessary to form the parliament because its role is increasing. And these are members of the Belarusian People’s Congress. One can say it will be the core of that body. It is very important for us,” the head of state concluded.