During the presidential elections low voter turnout is expected. And a referendum combined with the elections can become an instrument of attracting people to the polling stations.

Starting from January 1, 2014, new system of courts of general jurisdiction is introduced — it was the problem set by Alexander Lukashenko at the conference on improving courts’ work and organs of justice. However, Valery Mitskevich, the head of the administration of the President, openly stated that this reform is only possible if the Constitution is amended, which in its turn, can be done exclusively at the referendum.

Uladzimir Matskevich, the head of the Board of the International Consortium “EuroBelarus”, in the talk with the EuroBelarus Information Service shared his opinion on why the political regime needs yet another referendum:

— At the conference on improving judicial system the problem of referendum was voiced by the authorities again. Don’t you think that the reforming of the judicial system is only a smokescreen for a next plebiscite?

— This is exactly what I think.

— Why does Lukashenko need one more referendum? Previous ones left people with a bitter aftertaste...

— It is hard to say what impression the previous referendums have left. Former referendums are forgotten. People don’t remember who they voted for, even if the elections were yesterday, not to speak about those of long standing.

The authorities have to somehow attract people to elections. They can’t drop the voter turnout of 50 per cent, so they have to invent something different. Thus, they have to combine elections with the referendum, which they did more than once. These are the political technologies of the 21^st century.

Some six months before the previous president elections the society was misinformed about the Lukashenko’s non-participation in the elections. After that candidates rushed to fight for the presidential post.

The same happens now. The rumour about the possibility to achieve something and changes in comparison with the former campaigns is being spread, which is, undoubtedly, misinformation.

— Why does Lukashenka need a new referendum?

— Perhaps, it is not the most important thing; however, the authorities need to take over the initiative from the initiators of the “People’s Referendum” and fully remove this campaign from the political battlefield.

— And what is this step is aimed at?

— The political regime has always been having only one aim — to retain power in the hand of one and the same people. Whatever campaign the current regime undertakes, everything is being done for the sake of power retention.

At the same time the regime is trying to solve problems which have to be solved. The reform of the judicial system has reached a crisis point long time ago. People are being told that this is about the merger of courts; however, the implication is how the reform of the judicial system will further the retaining of power.

— Can the authorities use the “People’s Referendum” campaign in their own goals?

— I believe that this confusing reforming of the judicial system can be carried out without the change of the Constitution and without a referendum, even if the Constitution mentions “The Supreme Economic Court of Republic of Belarus”.

“People’s Referendum” could have resulted in the idea of holding another referendum; though political regime also could have decided that individually.

The elections have lost its appeal for people, and low voter turnout is expected during both the local and the presidential elections. The authorities have to attract people to the elections, which can be done by combining together the elections and the referendum, as it has already been happening before. And if the preparation for the referendum starts, the question with court system won’t be the only one; a couple more will be dragged in, too.