On May 9, Alyaksandr Lukashenka signed the decree “On the protection of the sovereignty and constitutional order.”
According to “Pool of the First,” the decree stipulates that in case of President’s death after an assassination attempt, an act of terrorism, external aggression, or other violent acts, all state authorities and their officials act following the decisions of the Security Council, whose meetings are chaired by the Prime Minister.
In this case, a state of emergency or martial law shall be immediately declared in the country, and the Council shall determine the list of measures to ensure them. Decisions of the Security Council, according to the decree, are subject to unconditional implementation.
The main issue should be the holding of elections, which the Security Council appoints with presiding officers of regional executive committees.
The decree came into force as soon as it was signed.
Article 89 of the Constitution of Belarus stipulates that “if the office of the President falls vacant or the President is unable to perform his duties for reasons stipulated by the Constitution, his powers shall be assigned to the Prime Minister until a newly elected President is sworn in.”
Earlier, Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s press office commented on Lukashenka’s new decree on the transition of presidential powers.
“Lukashenka had to respond to the protest: for the first time in 26 years, he began preparing his departure,” Tsikhanouskaya’s press service reported.
“Now we have to finish what we started and ensure his departure under legal procedures. The best way is to negotiate a new election,” the press service quoted Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya as saying.
belsat.eu
