MINSK: The Republic of Belarus hosted the first session of the 7th Belarusian People’s Congress (BPC) on April 24-25, 2024 in Minsk.
The supreme representative body of Belarus BPC was established in 1996 on the initiative of the Head of State and is considered to be the guarantor of political stability and sovereignty of the country.
On the first day of the BPC, President Alexander Lukashenko spoke about the role and place of the BPC in the renewed political system of the country, economic and social achievements of Belarus over the years of its sovereign development, as well as about the situation in the world and the region.
On the second day of the meeting, the strategic planning documents were reviewed and adopted while National Security Concept and the Military Doctrine were also approved.
The session of the Assembly is called upon to make decisions on the approval of the main directions of domestic and foreign policy and socio-economic program for the development of the country. At the suggestion of the Head of State, the BPC has the right to suggest amendments and additions to the Constitution of Belarus.
The permanent number of delegates of the Belarusian People’s Congress is 1 200, with 5 years of office term, while the frequency of its meetings is at least once a year.
The decisions of the BPC are binding and can cancel legal acts and other decisions of state bodies that are against the interests of national security, except for the acts of judicial bodies; it has the right to consider impeachment issues.
The BPC has the right to declare a state of emergency or martial law in the country if there are grounds provided for by the Constitution of Belarus, as well as to decide on sending peacekeeping missions outside Belarus President’s proposal.
The BPC will act also as an arbitrator in case of critical moments.
