Who is that little son that Lukashenka sees as his successor?
Because they are inconvenient, he “does not let them be distributed”. With their question often being biting, the previous president’s press conference with such a “democratic” audience took place only three years ago.
During the previous press conference, the then press secretary of Lukashenka, Natalya Petkevich asked the journalists to stand up when he would enter a briefing room. “He is the head of the state”, she would say. It was a talking request, but it was three years ago.
On April 12, it was for the first time when journalists were allowed to switch on their microphones and even debate with the president. Lukashenka offered reporters to choose a format of conversations by themselves.
The microphones were used only by the chief editor of Narodnaya Volya newspaper Joseph Siaredzich and the director of Belapan news agency Ales Lipai, who vitalized in some way this press conference. The journalists from the state-run media would not make any remarks.
The “presidential pool” were given a priority to ask the first questions. The journalists from the major TV channels and newspapers were interested how the country coped with the gas and oil problems and whether we should expect better relations with the West.
The president’s recipe was unexpected: in the midst of the crises he decided not to intervene.
“When it was hard, I would always let the economy float free so that not to do harm. So, I did not intervene.
Not everybody dashed to the banks to withdraw their money. But, there were enough of those who wanted to hide them under their pillows. We had to spend a third of our golden reserves on those who were withdrawing their money from banks…, Lukashenka said.
The only thing still pending unresolved is reaching the understanding with the West. Yet, he described the European Union as a “great organization”. But, according to the president, these are not our country’s problems. Furthermore, his policy of non-intervention does not work in this case.
“Yes, we have failed to restore our relations with the West. But if you say that I am to blame for that, I will not agree with you. You know what the West wants from us…
When you [the West] decided to grab us at the neck as an ugly duckling or a kitten, thank you; we don’t need that. People are pushing us towards normal relations with the West. Already now, our trade with the EU is 10 percent bigger than with Russia.”
It is noteworthy that when discussing the “Russian problem”, Lukashenka cannot but use the media to communicate with the Kremlin. Responding to the questions about Russia, Lukashenka sounded as if he was talking to Putin.
It is interesting that he called Joseph Siaredzich, the chief editor of Narodnaya Volya, as the first man who advised him in writing not to switch to the Russian currency. In general, the president seemed to be trying to get support from the opposing journalists.
For example, he quoted for several times the Belarusy i Rynok newspaper. He would normally nod at that newspaper when talking about economy.
As for the government journalists, Lukashenka suddenly tried to convince them that they were not going to feel ashamed by him.
“The president must behave in such a way so that a journalist feels proud for his president. Of course, I make mistakes. But I stress once again that you will not be ashamed by me.
If you hear an incredible rumor that I stole something or abused my office or I have billions at my accounts, spit to that man’s eyes,” he said.
Regional journalists were mostly concerned with the growth of road accidents. They also asked whether he was going to visit the Chernobyl-affected areas this year, and raised concerns about communal service in rural areas.
It seems that the president will have to cancel his foreign trip so that to keep his promise to come to the contaminated areas on April 26. But, he says he is not going to take the opposition along there, because he is convinced that they don’t need that.
When non-state journalists started asking, the tone of the briefing was less official. From the side, it could appear that their questions were not acute. Probably, it was because the journalists were trying to solve their problems. Belapan is still unable to receive a radio frequency. The chief editor of Narodnaya Volya asked the president to solve the issue of printing and distribution of newspaper in this country.
It is worth noting that three years ago Lukashenka praised that he was buying the opposition Narodnaya Volya in a usual newsstand. That was the main distinguishing feature of the press freedom under Lukashenka.
This time, he seemed to be hurt by the non-state press. “Where are you going to find such a fool who would be abused in such a way by the non-state media? How can it be? Recently, I read that Lukashenka disappeared from TV screens for several days, because he was in deep drinking. Why are you writing this? Have you ever seen me drunk?” Lukashenka lamented.
Given that nothing like that appeared in a single newspaper, it seems the president is confusing the press with the Internet publications.
Joseph Siaredzich and Pavel Yakubovich, the chief editor of the presidential newspaper Belarus Today, became the major newsmakers of the press conference. The president would mention their names at every occasion.
The most interesting moment of the briefing was Lukashenka’s remark about his successor. He tried to convince the journalists that he was not raising his successor out of his two sons. He said he was preparing… his third son.
“I would say my Victor that he is still weak today and will remain weaker than the current president in the future. So, why would I need to push a weaker candidate?
But, talking about a successor, I am going to prepare the youngest one. He is a unique man. So you wait. Maybe we will not be able to wait till he comes, but other generations of the Belarusians will,” he said.
The press conference lasted slightly over two hours, so one could see the president got tired. He even allowed himself a break and offered the floor to vice premier Kabiakou.
Three years ago, a similar briefing lasted four hours, and the tireless head of the state still could not stop. “I am not reveling in power; I am not a czar; I am a ploughman at my post,” Lukashenka complained to the media. After two hours, everybody believed in that.
Photo by news.bakililar.az
