Belarus’s longtime leader Alexander Lukashenko revealed plans to change the law on presidential succession a move that is believed to be intentional about paving way for his son to assume power in the event of a president’s death while in office.
Speaking to reporters on Saturday during a visit to areas affected by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in April 1986, President Lukashenko said; ‘Tell me, if there is no president tomorrow, would you guarantee everything is going to be fine? No,’
‘I will sign a decree about how the power in Belarus will be set up. If the president is shot, the next day the security council will get the power,’ he said.
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Many observers and pundits have suggested that Lukashenko, who has ruled the European country with an iron fist since 1994, aims to establish a political dynasty, although he has denied the assertion on several occasions.
The president himself is the head of the national security council, but his eldest son, Viktor Lukashenko, also has a seat and is regarded as its informal leader.
Under current law in the country, the prime minister takes presidential powers if the presidency becomes vacant, but Lukashenko said on Saturday that the premier would be only the nominal leader and all decisions would be made by the 20-person security council.
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK