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Belarus Proposes to Move Away From Democratic Presidential Elections

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Belarus Proposes to Move Away From Democratic Presidential Elections
Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko casts his ballot during Belarus' presidential election at a polling station in the capital Minsk on January 26, 2025. (Source: Getty Images)

Belarus' Central Election Commission (CEC) head, Igor Karpenko, suggested abandoning direct presidential elections in the country, arguing that a more centralized system—similar to China’s—would be more effective, during an interview on the state television channel ONT on February 5.

Karpenko dismissed the idea of “liberal democracy,” saying, “The Communist Party in China has declared itself responsible for the fate of the country, and it is the guiding force. That is an honest approach to voters.”

He suggested that Belarus should also consider moving away from direct presidential elections.

One possible alternative, he noted, would be for the All-Belarusian People’s Assembly —a body that was granted constitutional status in 2022—to elect the president instead.

Karpenko’s remarks come just days after Belarus' CEC formally confirmed Alexander Lukashenko’s reelection victory, claiming he secured more than 87% of the vote.

Earlier, The European Union described presidential elections in Belarus as undemocratic.

“This is an exercise that is totally undemocratic. These elections are a total sham. It is not an election if you already know who is going to win,” said EU Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Anitta Hipper.

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The All-Belarusian People’s Assembly, or ABPA, is the highest organ of state power of the Republic of Belarus. Established in 1996, it was granted wide-reaching powers as a result of the 2022 Belarusian constitutional referendum and has since become the primary organ of the Belarusian government.