Lydia Yermoshina emphasized the CEC’s independence during an interview about her career, coinciding with the CEC's 35th anniversary in early December 2024.
“The most important thing is that in 1996, the Central Commission gained the status of an independent body. It was separated from the Parliament and any state structure. This independence allowed us to essentially conduct our own electoral policy and create a respected, distinct authority in the eyes of voters and the international community,” Yermoshina stated.
According to the Belarus 1994 Constitution, members of the election commission were appointed by the Supreme Council, which is a legislative body consisting of 260 elected deputies. However, in 1996, constitutional amendments initiated by President Aleksandr Lukashenko expanded presidential powers regarding the CEC while reducing those of parliament.
The president gained the authority to unilaterally appoint half of the commission's members and, with the consent of the Council of the Republic, the chairperson. The remaining six members were appointed by the upper chamber of parliament, and the president was also granted the power to dismiss all the CEC members.
In 2022, additional amendments to the Constitution significantly broadened presidential authority. The role of parliament in selecting members for the Central Election Commission was abolished. As a result, the president currently has the power to propose all members, including the chairperson of the election commission. These nominations are coordinated with a limited group within the Presidium of the All-Belarusian People’s Assembly, which then grants its approval.
