LUKASHENKO TO HAVE FINAL SAY ON NEW SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT?

Assertions to the contrary notwithstanding, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko is expected to have the deciding word on who will be speaker of the new Belarusian parliament. The pool of likely candidates appears to have narrowed to about twelve people. In addition to Myacheslau Hryb, the current speaker who stands no chance of acceptance by Lukashenko, the candidates include Vyacheslau Kebich, the former prime minister, and Uladzimir Hancharyk, chairman of government-sponsored trade unions in Belarus since Soviet times. Although Kebich appears to have Lukashenko’s warmest endorsement, the ex-premier’s situation is complicated by a persistent financial corruption scandal. The handful of democratic-minded candidates, including former parliamentary speaker Stanislau Shushkevich and former foreign minister Petr Krauchenko, are guaranteed to find little or no support. (16) Lukashenko’s choice is certain to follow from his chief objective, namely, to turn the parliament into a body incapable of resisting his dictates and policies.

Moldovan Parliament Rejects Presidential Control of Security Ministry.