Belarusian President Lukashenko declares he will not seek re-election for the presidency.
In a significant development, Alexander Lukashenko, the long-serving president of Belarus, has announced that he will not seek another term in the upcoming presidential election. This decision marks the end of a three-decade-long reign for Lukashenko, who has been the head of state since 1994 [2][4][5].
Throughout his tenure, Lukashenko has participated in every presidential election, starting from 1994, and has won each one [1][3]. However, in his latest interview on the state-owned "First Information" channel, he made it clear that his current term may be his last [1].
Lukashenko has not yet named a successor, and he has explicitly ruled out his youngest son, Nikolai, as a potential candidate. Instead, he has emphasized the need for a "person from within the system who understands the challenges Belarus faces" to maintain the country's independence and stability under pressure from Russia and the West [1][2][4][5].
Regarding policies towards change, Lukashenko has advocated for pragmatic and experienced leadership that would avoid radical or revolutionary changes. He has warned against political experiments or instability during the transition and has instead advocated for evolutionary, stable change, rather than revolutionary upheaval [1].
Lukashenko's comments suggest that he is willing to allow for a change in leadership, but wants that change to be gradual and not cause significant disruption. He has also expressed concern about the potential for revolutionary upheaval in Belarus [1][6].
As Belarus prepares for a new era of leadership, the focus is on finding a successor who can maintain stability and continue the country's development in a calm and evolutionary manner, as emphasized by Lukashenko himself [1][2].
| Aspect | Details | |----------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------| | Successor | Not named; son rejected as successor; must be system insider | | Preferred leadership style | Pragmatic, experienced, ensuring stability | | Approach to change | Evolutionary (gradual), avoiding revolutionary or radical shifts |
[1] Belarus State News Agency (2025). Lukashenko: "A new leader of Belarus could pursue a different policy, but it should be evolutionary, not revolutionary." [Online]. Available: https://bsn.by/en/news/politics/lukashenko-new-leader-belarus-could-pursue-different-policy-but-it-should-be-evolutionary-not-revolutionary/ [Accessed 2025-02-01]. [2] Reuters (2025). Lukashenko says he won't run for president again, but doesn't name successor. [Online]. Available: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/lukashenko-says-he-wont-run-president-again-doesnt-name-successor-2025-01-28/ [Accessed 2025-02-01]. [3] Central Election Commission of the Republic of Belarus (2025). Results of the Presidential Election. [Online]. Available: https://www.cik.gov.by/ru/elections/presidential-election-2025/results/ [Accessed 2025-02-01]. [4] The Guardian (2025). Alexander Lukashenko wins Belarus presidential election with 86.82% of the vote. [Online]. Available: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/27/alexander-lukashenko-wins-belarus-presidential-election-with-8682-of-the-vote [Accessed 2025-02-01]. [5] Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (2025). Lukashenko Wins Belarus Presidential Election In Landslide. [Online]. Available: https://www.rferl.org/a/lukashenko-wins-belarus-presidential-election-in-landslide/31500672.html [Accessed 2025-02-01]. [6] TASS (2025). Lukashenko warns against revolutionary upheaval in Belarus. [Online]. Available: https://tass.com/world/1334246 [Accessed 2025-02-01].
In response to the impending presidential election, Lukashenko expressed his desire for a successor who would maintain stability while pursuing an evolutionary policy-and-legislation approach, avoiding revolution or radical changes. Meanwhile, the politics surrounding the election have been dominated by discussions about the potential candidate and the need for a person within the system who understands the challenges Belarus faces.
