“The People Have Spoken”:
Europe’s Last Dictator Will Be Allowed to Run for Third Term
On October 16, 2004, few Belarusians cast their votes for new members of Parliament and for constitution amendment allowing the current president to run again for the post. Despite the numerous issues of election and referendum legitimacy (ODIHR Election Observation Mission to Belarus), new Parliament was elected with no representatives of the opposition and president Lukashenko will be allowed to run for a third time next summer.
For the past 10 year in power, Lukashenko has done everything possible to share it with only a few. His overtly authoritarian style has led to the country's isolation: "An authoritarian style of rule is characteristic of me, and I have always admitted it," he said in August 2003(BBC Profile: Alexander Lukashenko). Belarus was suspended from the Council of Europe in 1997 and the US imposed sanctions today. The Belarus Democracy Act which provides for the promotion of democracy by supplying aid to non-governmental organizations, helping to establish an independent media and a ban on US federal agencies from giving any financial aid to the country. (Belarus vote condemned, BBC)
Russia and Putin seem to like this style – Putin himself has concentrated government power in his hands (BBC - Russia supports Belarus elections). The two countries have long been in discussions regarding common currency and tax system. However, political union seems to be a watershed.
In the mean time, 27% of Belorus’ population lives below the poverty line. (World Bank country brief)