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Belarus president poised for victory in constitution re-write
November 24, 1996
Web posted at: 10:25 p.m. EST (0305 GMT)MINSK, Belarus (CNN) -- Belorussian President Alexander Lukashenko all but claimed victory in a vote Sunday to grant him sweeping new powers.
Lukashenko's administration said most of the 6.1 million votes cast backed the president, enough for the measure to pass, according to the Interfax news agency.
Lukashenko, 42, scheduled a news conference for Monday morning, and on election day appeared confident of trouncing his parliamentary opponents after a one-sided campaign in which he monopolized the media and fired the head of the electoral commission.
Opposition boycotted the polling, and international observers cited improper voting procedures such as pro-Lukashenko propaganda at polling stations.
But Lukashenko Sunday made conciliatory comments, saying he will not exercise his new power to dissolve parliament. "I will not dissolve it because we will have harmony," he said.
Sunday's vote was only the latest episode in an escalating constitutional dispute between the president and parliament that has involved threats of impeachment and a failed Russian-brokered compromise.
The referendum extends Lukashenko's term through 2001 and gives him greater control over all branches of government. It may also strengthen his hand against Parliament, which has impeachment proceedings pending against the president.
A former Communist state farm director, Lukashenko has cracked down on dissent and sent truncheon-wielding riot police to crush protests this year.
He told voters they lived in "a small island of order and stability in an ocean of chaos and anarchy," a reference to neighboring Russia.
Several hundred die-hard protesters Sunday gathered on Minsk's snowy Independence Square, waving red-and-white nationalist flags and shouting down government vehicles sent to disperse them. The leading opposition movement, the Popular Front, said three opposition members were arrested.
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Balloting proceeded calmly at the 7,000 polling stations, despite fears of violence on a snowy day in this country of 10.4 million on Russia's western border.
Eighty-four percent of the 7.5 million voters participated in the referendum -- far exceeding the 50 percent required to make the referendum valid, election officials said.
Preliminary results were expected Monday.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- Belarus referendum to proceed amid political crisis - November 23, 1996
- Russia intervenes in Belarus' political fight - November 22, 1996
- Concern grows over Belarus power struggle - Novemeber 19, 1996
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