Presidential Election in Belarus (1999)

After the referendum on November 24, 1996, in Belarus there was a situation of coexistence of legitimate powerless and illegitimate dominant authorities. The bicameral parliament - the National Assembly - created by the amendments to the constitution that came into force after the referendum, was not recognized by the international community, and the legitimate Supreme Council , although it acted, lost the ability to carry out legislative and representative functions, since the implementation of its decisions was not ensured.

However, the Supreme Council continued to operate as a legislative body recognized by the European Parliament . Since February 1997, the maximum number of deputies at meetings of the Supreme Council did not exceed 50 people, and the term “ parliamentary sessions ” gave way to a more modest definition - “deputy assemblies”.

Continuing to implement the 1994 Constitution, the Supreme Council did not recognize the extension of the powers of Alexander Lukashenko for two years (according to the 1996 amendments to the Constitution, the presidential term was reckoned from 1996 for five years). Thus, according to the Supreme Council, the powers of the president ended on July 20, 1999 . On this basis, deputies of the Supreme Council scheduled the presidential election on May 16, 1999.

The collection of signatures for the nomination of candidates faced opposition from the authorities. Belarusian television showed a number of propaganda broadcasts in which police officers "hunted" for signature collectors. The Ministry of Justice issued official warnings to the parties of the Belarusian Popular Front , UCP and the Belarusian Helsinki Committee for participating in the presidential election. The State Press Committee issued warnings to the media for providing information support for the elections.

On March 31, both initiative groups presented to the Central Election Commission the signatures collected for the candidates: for each about 130 thousand. On the same day, Zenon Poznyak and Mikhail Chigir were registered as candidates. The next day, April 1, Mikhail Chigir was arrested on charges of economic crimes allegedly committed in 1993-1994, when he headed Belagroprombank .

Due to the impossibility of organizing stationary polling stations, the CEC decided to vote from May 6 to 16 by bypassing voters. Thus, the elections could not meet the OSCE standards, and it became impossible to invite observers from this organization, and at the same time to receive international recognition of the voting results.

After the start of voting, Zenon Poznyak withdrew on the basis of “numerous violations” by the head of the CEC, Viktor Gonchar , during the preparation and conduct of the election campaign ^[1] . After that, the elections finally lost their meaning, and Poznyak’s decision criticized part of the party members and further split in the Belarusian Popular Front.

On May 19, the election results were summed up. According to the CEC chairman, 53% of voters took part in the elections, but the winner was not announced.

In fact, the attempt to hold elections became a political action, which showed that there is a need for transforming society on the basis of the 1994 Constitution . The activation of the Belarusian society and qualitative changes in the democratic opposition took place.

In the fall of 1999, the crisis that arose after Zenon Pozniak’s remarks addressed to CEC Chairman Viktor Gonchar ended in a split of the BPF into two structures: the BPF party led by Vintsuk Vecherko and the Conservative Christian Party, BPF Z. Poznyak.

The activity of the Supreme Council itself was disorganized by the departure of its chairman Semyon Sharetsky to Lithuania . Victor Gonchar took over the duties of the chairman, but his disappearance in September 1999 actually put an end to the activities of the Supreme Council.

On August 21, 1999, deputies of the Supreme Council, faithful to the 1994 Constitution, appointed Semen Sharetsky as Acting President of the Republic of Belarus.