How did the 1996 constitutional referendum expand presidential power in Belarus?

The 1996 constitutional referendum in Belarus, the legitimacy of which was widely disputed by many Belarusians and the international community, significantly consolidated power in the hands of President Alexander Lukashenko.12

The constitutional revisions expanded presidential authority in several key ways:

• Rule by Decree: The president gained the power to rule by decree, bypassing traditional legislative processes.1
• Term Extension: Lukashenko secured the right to prolong his term in office.12
• Parliamentary Diminishment: The original Supreme Soviet was closed and replaced by a new, bicameral National Assembly with significantly reduced powers. The political opposition was effectively excluded from this new body.12
• Near-Absolute Control: These changes granted the president near-absolute power, effectively ending the separation of powers established by the 1994 constitution.12

Following these changes, Lukashenko adopted an increasingly authoritarian role, leading to strained relations with the international community and the European Union due to concerns over the suppression of political opposition and the lack of democratic processes.23