Belarus proposes to extend president’s rule

Belarus on Monday published draft constitutional amendments that could allow authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko to retain power until 2035. Belarusians will vote on the proposals in a February referendum. The amendments follow months of government crackdowns on protests and dissent against Lukashenko’s claim to victory in the 2020 elections.

What are the proposed changes? The amendments would restore presidential term limits, but only after a “newly elected president” assumes office. That would allow Lukashenko to remain in office for an additional two terms. The changes seek to grant former presidents immunity from prosecution over their actions in office and also strengthen the role of the All-Belarus People’s Assembly, a gathering of loyalists currently without any governing status. The assembly could gain the authority to draft laws and elect electoral commission members and top court judges, among other powers. Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who fled to Lithuania last year, encouraged people to “cross all the proposed options off the ballot.”

Dig deeper: Listen to Jenny Lind Schmitt’s report on how Christians in Belarus have responded to the crackdown on dissent.