Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Council of Deputies Vladimir Terentyev discussed the upcoming referendum with the region's energy workers
The discussion was attended by the Chairman of the Regional Council of Deputies Vladimir Terentyev, General Director of RUP "Vitebskenergo" Andrey Panchenko, Deputy General Director for Ideological and Social Work of "Vitebskenergo" Vladimir Diklov, Director of the branch "Vitebsk Electric Networks" Nikolai Rusak, and representatives of the work collective.
– The wording of the question submitted to the referendum has been determined, which is reproduced verbatim in the ballot paper: "Do you accept the amendments and additions to the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus?". Every compatriot, in order to answer it thoughtfully and seriously, must independently and thoroughly study the draft amendments and additions to the Basic Law of the Republic of Belarus, – noted Vladimir Terentyev.
In his speech, he emphasized that the draft of the new Constitution has a solid historical and legal platform.
– In the Year of Historical Memory and the referendum campaign, we need to remember the past and understand that the Belarusian people have much to be proud of. This includes the fact that in the 16th century, the Statutes of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania were compiled on our lands – a monument of European legal culture of the Renaissance. This document is called the first European constitution, – noted Vladimir Terentyev. – The code of laws of the GDL was so well-thought-out that it was followed for almost 300 years. The first Statute consisted of 13 sections (283 articles) and was published in 1529. The third Statute was published in 1588 and was in effect in the territory of the GDL until its complete abolition in 1840. Its chapters were devoted to land, judicial, family, and hunting law, limited the power of the king and major magnates; according to the Statute, the king had no right to grant lands to foreigners or appoint them to positions. The Statute limited the supreme power in the country, dividing it into legislative, judicial, and executive branches. Many norms of this ancient constitution on our lands began to operate several decades earlier than in Western European countries. They are still relevant today.
People's power has played a key role in the Belarusian lands throughout the centuries. The concept of veche – a gathering of people to resolve vital state issues – existed on our lands a thousand years ago, in the Principality of Polotsk. Now, the people need to consolidate again, to come to the modern veche of the 21st century – the referendum – to determine the country's development course for many years to come.
The draft amendments and additions to the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus transfers more powers to the All-Belarusian People's Assembly, and therefore strengthens the role of people's power in the state.