Vladimir Terentyev: "A New Party is a Unifying Force"
On the eve of the large-scale forum, "Vitebskiye Vesti" with the help of Vladimir Terentyev, a member of the republican organizing committee for the creation of the party, head of the regional organization "Belaya Rus," and chairman of the regional council of deputies of the 28th convocation, summarized the results of the regional preparatory stage for the formation of the new structure and tried to understand what will happen next.
— How were the meetings in the Vitebsk region? What is the collective portrait of the region's delegates to the constituent congress?
— A total of 25 constituent meetings for the creation of the party were held from February 13 to 16 (including three in the regional center and one in Novopolotsk) with the participation of more than 1.5 thousand people. 122 delegates were elected to the constituent congress. They include representatives of various professions: teachers, doctors, specialists from industrial enterprises and the agro-industrial complex, local government bodies, etc. The largest number, 75 people, work in the social sphere.
Speaking about the age composition, more than half of the delegates are citizens aged 31 to 50, and another 38.5% have significant life experience (over 50 years old). It is significant that 11 people not older than 30 years old will also represent Vitebsk region at the constituent congress. This is the party's personnel reserve for the future. Today, youth are not standing aside from any important political event in Belarus. Therefore, involving them in the work at the stage of establishing the new party and subsequently in the process of political construction provides an opportunity for young people to gain experience in participating in the socio-political life of the country and to become the political elite in the future.
The majority of delegates (72.9%) are members of "Belaya Rus", and they will form the party's core at the initial stage. However, representatives of other public associations – the Belarusian Women's Union, the Belarusian Red Cross Society, and the Belarusian Republican Youth Union – will also attend the founding congress. In the future, the party will be open to all citizens who share its Program and Charter.
By the way, the regional organization "Belaya Rus", which has over 19,000 members, continues to operate, preserving its traditions and areas of activity. How the public association and the political party will interact will be revealed by the future.
— How many proposals were submitted by representatives of the Vitebsk region regarding the draft party program? Which sections of the document were the most discussed?
— Indeed, an open public discussion of the draft program has been underway since February 20. Its provisions have been analyzed at dialogue platforms, and discussions have unfolded in work collectives and educational institutions, public associations, and social networks. According to operational data, the organizing committee has received over a hundred proposals. It is difficult to quantitatively assess which specific sections of the document were the most debated, as there was a comprehensive discussion of the new entity in the political arena: the conceptual foundations of the party's creation, its place in the political structure of the state, interaction with the public association "Belaya Rus" and other associations, party membership, etc.
The very fact of submitting the party program for public discussion is significant. It provides an opportunity to refine the draft, taking into account comments and proposals. Participants of the dialogue platforms paid attention to ensuring that the issues of creating and functioning of regional party structures, membership, financing, and the party's participation in the socio-political life of the state are reflected in the development of the constituent documents.
— The updated Law "On Political Parties" pays special attention to the regional representation of parties. It is obvious that the voice of the regions should be heard in the new political organization…
— The legislative changes are aimed at creating parties with real political power, enjoying authority and support in the state. Today, there is a trend towards their consolidation, giving them greater political weight, which is expressed in the requirement to create organizational structures in districts and cities of regional subordination.
The new party will be able not only to defend the state and national interests but also to solve pressing social and political problems. Party members will participate in making important decisions for the country, prepare a personnel reserve for the political system, and contribute to the formation of political culture and consciousness of citizens.
Each of the delegates is a professional in their field with extensive public work experience. Among them are representatives of the deputy corps and structures working with youth, as well as in the social and humanitarian spheres. Now they will have to engage in political construction, act as conduits for initiatives and interests of the regions at the national level.
— If we try to summarize the opinion of the Vitebsk founders, what tasks will the future political organization have to focus on?
— Today, civil society understands the need to consolidate constructive forces on the platform of party building. For the first time, the largest public association will have the opportunity to declare itself as a political force with weight in discussing the most important issues for the state, and also, thanks to mass public support, to nominate its representatives for elections at all levels. It is obvious that the party will become a powerful force in support of the current state authorities, a conduit for its initiatives. Party members will participate in making important decisions for the country, prepare a personnel reserve for the political system, and contribute to the formation of political culture and consciousness of citizens.
The new party should become a unifying force capable of helping Belarusian society respond to geopolitical, economic, and information-propaganda challenges and defend national sovereignty.