Lukashenko hints at successor amidst uncertain Belarus future
Aleksander Lukashenko surprised the residents of Vitebsk on Saturday by visiting unexpectedly. The Belarusian dictator hinted that the country might soon have a new president. "You should get used to the fact that the president will be different," he said.
9:28 AM EDT, August 11, 2024
Aleksander Lukashenko has been ruling Belarus since 1994. However, the dictator heavily relies on the Kremlin for his actions. He follows Vladimir Putin's orders to maintain his power, which is unsurprising given that Russian troops are stationed in Belarus and nuclear weapons have been deployed there.
Lukashenko was re-elected president in 2020, although there were significant doubts about the election results. These doubts led to a wave of protests, which were brutally suppressed by the Belarusian regime. With Putin's help, Lukashenko stabilized the situation in the country, imprisoning his political opponents. Unfortunately, democracy in Belarus suffered.
Next year, another presidential election will be held. There will likely be significant doubts about its fairness. However, the key question is who will participate in it.
Lukashenko won't be president? "It will be someone else"
Aleksander Lukashenko made a cryptic statement during his Saturday visit to Horodyszcze, in the Vitebsk region. His words were quoted by the Interfax agency. The dictator suggested that he might soon stop performing his role.
I am already starting to publicly tell you all: you should get used to the fact that the president will be different. (...) You must get used to the fact that I am not eternal, just like all of you - Lukashenko told the gathering.
It is known, though, that the president of Belarus will not vacate his position on his own. He announced that he would not leave "neither tomorrow, nor the day after tomorrow." However, he hinted that change might come soon. In February, Lukashenko declared that he would run for re-election. Now, he has sown much uncertainty. Perhaps in next year's elections, another candidate who earns the Kremlin's favor will participate. And what will happen to Lukashenko?
I will leave, live with you somewhere in a village, come, and you will remember and thank me that it wasn't worse - the Belarusian president supposedly said.
