"It is not Party epoch, that is why there are no milkmaids and collective farmers among senators”
ERB has decided to find out how “ordinary” citizens could become senators of the Council of the Republic. The head of the official Union of Writers Mikalai Charhinets has been a senator thrice. He was appointed member of the Council of the Republic by the President for the last two times.
Mikalai Charhinets: “I was nominated by Minsk for the first time. The President invited me for the second time and asked about my attitude to it. Of course, I thanked him and accepted it”.
Charhinets has not been nominated by the council of deputies this time and the President has not said anything about him yet.
Mikalai Charhinets: “Only the President can take a decision about me. It was him who appointed me! The President has not used his right to chose yet”.
On the other hand, a priest – father Fyodar Pouny – has been nominated for the position of a senator in Minsk. The priest does not know who has nominated him. He says it was the city. However, father Fyodar has not decided whether to accept the honour. And he has not received a blessing of the ecclesiastical administration yet.
Father Fyodar Pouny: “I did not decide to run for the position. The decision was taken by the city that nominated me. First, I still have to give my reply. Second, I need a blessing of the administration of our church. However, I think that I am not ready for such a step. So I do not think that my decision will be positive”.
According to canons, orthodox priests are forbidden to get involved in politics. However, father Fyodar thinks that membership in the Council of the Republic is not politics. ERB has found out that the priest has decided to refuse “the honour” anyway and has withdrawn his candidature.
The head of Hrodna regional Council of deputies Arkadz Karputs has explained to ERB how candidates were nominated in Hrodna Region.
Arkadz Karputs: “There are applications of contenders willing to become members of the Council of the Republic. There are district authorities that discuss candidatures and propose candidates, there is the executive committee – they nominate competent people. They gather at a common meeting and take their decision”.
According to the lists of senator contenders published by regional Councils of deputies, the majority of candidates are directors of plants, enterprises and state officials. The head of the Council of deputies was surprised when ERB asked him why it was like that when the law allowed any citizen to be nominated for the position.
Arkadz Karputs: “It is the highest legislative organ! Why can’t those people be there? Why should milkmaids and collective farmers be senators? It is not the Party epoch!”
As far as we know, senators do not get paid for their work unlike deputies and are not exempt from their jobs. It is clear that a director of a plant is more likely to find some time to go to a session in Minsk rather than a milkmaid.
Mikalai Charhinets: “I was nominated by Minsk for the first time. The President invited me for the second time and asked about my attitude to it. Of course, I thanked him and accepted it”.
Charhinets has not been nominated by the council of deputies this time and the President has not said anything about him yet.
Mikalai Charhinets: “Only the President can take a decision about me. It was him who appointed me! The President has not used his right to chose yet”.
On the other hand, a priest – father Fyodar Pouny – has been nominated for the position of a senator in Minsk. The priest does not know who has nominated him. He says it was the city. However, father Fyodar has not decided whether to accept the honour. And he has not received a blessing of the ecclesiastical administration yet.
Father Fyodar Pouny: “I did not decide to run for the position. The decision was taken by the city that nominated me. First, I still have to give my reply. Second, I need a blessing of the administration of our church. However, I think that I am not ready for such a step. So I do not think that my decision will be positive”.
According to canons, orthodox priests are forbidden to get involved in politics. However, father Fyodar thinks that membership in the Council of the Republic is not politics. ERB has found out that the priest has decided to refuse “the honour” anyway and has withdrawn his candidature.
The head of Hrodna regional Council of deputies Arkadz Karputs has explained to ERB how candidates were nominated in Hrodna Region.
Arkadz Karputs: “There are applications of contenders willing to become members of the Council of the Republic. There are district authorities that discuss candidatures and propose candidates, there is the executive committee – they nominate competent people. They gather at a common meeting and take their decision”.
According to the lists of senator contenders published by regional Councils of deputies, the majority of candidates are directors of plants, enterprises and state officials. The head of the Council of deputies was surprised when ERB asked him why it was like that when the law allowed any citizen to be nominated for the position.
Arkadz Karputs: “It is the highest legislative organ! Why can’t those people be there? Why should milkmaids and collective farmers be senators? It is not the Party epoch!”
As far as we know, senators do not get paid for their work unlike deputies and are not exempt from their jobs. It is clear that a director of a plant is more likely to find some time to go to a session in Minsk rather than a milkmaid.
