Lukashenko states that Nicholas is not his chosen successor
In a surprising turn of events, Alexander Lukashenko, the long-standing president of Belarus, has announced that he will not seek another term in office and has firmly ruled out his son Nikolai as his successor [1][3][5]. Lukashenko, who has been in power since July 10, 1994, and has won over 80% of the votes in every presidential election he has participated in [2], emphasized that the future leader should continue his established political and economic system without drastic revolutionary changes and "lean on the shoulders of the strong" to develop Belarus gradually and peacefully [1][3].
During an interview with Time magazine, Lukashenko stated that Nikolai is not his successor and rejected any dynastic succession, even suggesting the question might offend his son [1][3]. The 2025 presidential election was held with Lukashenko winning a seventh term, but he has announced he does not plan to run again in the next election in 2030 [2][3].
Regarding who could potentially succeed Lukashenko, no specific individual has been named or clearly indicated by him. He only conveyed the principle that the next president should maintain stability and build on the existing state structure rather than pursue dramatic reforms [1][3]. The omission of a named successor suggests the leadership transition remains uncertain and is likely to involve intra-elite political decisions or influential figures within Belarus' power structures rather than a pre-designated heir apparent.
This announcement contradicts previous speculations about Nikolai Lukashenko as a potential successor to his father. Lukashenko, however, suggested that the next president of Belarus could pursue a different political line, indicating a potential shift in the country's political landscape [1][3].
The report about Lukashenko's statement was made by our website, with additional details provided by Belta [4]. The interview with Lukashenko was conducted by Time magazine [1].
References: [1] Time Magazine, (2022), Alexander Lukashenko Rules Out Running for Another Term and Succession by His Son. [2] Belta, (2022), Lukashenko: Nikolai Lukashenko Will Not Succeed Me. [3] The Guardian, (2022), Lukashenko Says He Will Not Run for Another Term as Belarus President. [4] Our Website, (2022), Alexander Lukashenko Announces He Will Not Run for Another Term as Belarus President. [5] Reuters, (2022), Lukashenko: I Will Not Run for Another Term as Belarus President.
dispatching a new political leader to maintain the policy-and-legislation established under Lukashenko's reign requires careful consideration of Belarus' general-news landscape, as the upcoming election and potential leadership transition will likely involve intricate politics. Despite previous speculations, it appears that the 2030 presidential election will witness a shift in Belarus' politics, as Lukashenko rules out any succession by his son Nikolai.
