The speaker of the House of Representatives briefed the President on the outcomes of the seventh parliamentary session and plans for the near future. They are all necessarily related to the upcoming election campaign. It means that ministers will have to forget about their traditional vacation at this time. The President urged them to intensify their work in the constituencies, to help local authorities solve any local issues in the field. It is also important to be present to explain face-to-face any difficult moments in the election campaign.
Of course, any election race is accompanied with attacks against the state, provocation and populist slogans. It is important not to succumb to ‘dirty’ political techniques. Today people behave differently than in previous elections, and it’s easy to make fun of the state though there will be those on the opposition who will try. Alexander Lukashenko said on this occasion, “During Presidential elections, all candidates promise a lot but the one who will be elected will fulfil all the promises. I am sure that, even if another person is elected, people who are working now will do the work. It is a very complicated process — to prepare a public servant, the same official therefore, will continue to work, even if someone else comes to power from the opposition. A member of parliament is a person who enjoys the confidence of the population, and we need to talk with people. We must not promise anything extra and deceive people.”
At the meeting they also discussed the agenda for the future autumn session of Parliament. Today in the parliamentary commissions there are about 40 bills being prepared for discussion. The main focus is on the package of documents for the adoption of the Republican budget for 2016. Mr. Lukashenko, in particular, pointed out that when the budget is adopted, the parliamentarians must draw their attention to the simplification of tax legislation, the effectiveness of tax incentives and optimisation of the financing of state programmes. Another order of the President is to consider the introduction of a moratorium on changes in tax law during 2016.
By Vladimir Velikhov
