Ales Mihalevich: Life will change for the worse, no matter who becomes President (video)
Ales Mihalevich predicted that reforms and an increase in crime were unavoidable, explained why budget workers were unlikely to get an increase in salaries and suggested his own solution to the housing problem in the new project of the European Radio for Belarus “Candidate to Studio!”.
– Why did you decide you were able to become President?
– I am sure that I am educated and experienced enough to rule the state, I understand people’s needs. I can help people get the leader they deserve. In my opinion, a President is an employee, a director hired by the people. I am sure I will be an efficient leader.
– Many people associate Lukashenka with stability. What can you offer to them?
– I can offer modernization of different spheres of life and development of all the good things Belarus has at its disposal at the moment.
– Ales Mihalevich achieves his goal and becomes President. Have you already chosen the people you will appoint new Ministers, governors and other managers?
– I am sure that I have the people who can become our new government. There are famous people among them. Some of them are young specialists. Speaking about governors, I should say that I believe in local government. I believe that heads of provinces and districts should be elected by inhabitants of these cities.
– Will you bring a new team with you or will some of the current Ministers stay in their positions?
– It will depend on their professionalism. However, I think it is essential that Belarus should develop a system where that the arrival of a new Minister means the arrival of his or her team. It is a so-called cabinet: advisers working out the policy. Every new Minister should not change the whole structure of the Ministry and should not replace all the people working there.
– What should happen to “White Russia” and the BRYU?
– Every civil organization has a right to exist. I think that people should be able to gather and establish a civil organization. The organization should not violate the legislation – it should not promote fascism, violence, xenophobia and so on. Then it does have a right to exist. The same will be applied to “White Russia” and the BRUY – they have a right to exist. Whether they can exist without state subsidies is quite another matter. I think that the state should support civil organizations on a competitive basis. I am not really sure that “White Russia” and the BRYU are the most effective organizations having the most effective programmes now.
–How many policemen per citizen should we have? Does our number of policemen correspond to it or not? What will happen to them?
–No matter who gains power, the state leader will have to conduct serious economic reforms. It is known that economic changes often cause an increase in crime - criminals come out. That is why I do not think we should discuss any staff reduction in the police. On the other hand, there are a lot of people who are not involved in keeping the order and looking for criminals directly in the police. There are various professional services and commissions of experts. These are completely different departments, their employees wear the police uniform but they are not involved in the work of the police. These people will become civilian employees.
– How can the inflation be curbed? It is necessary to let the prices grow until “everything settles”?
– I do not believe in state price formation. On the other hand, it is possible to give people an opportunity to have an adequate income and to make a lot of money. The state can influence it directly.
– Is it necessary to close down all unprofitable enterprises right away?
–If an enterprise is indebted to other subjects, the bankruptcy procedure is the only way to recover the debt. That is why it is clear that the artificial support of unprofitable enterprises should be ceased gradually. It is a normal world practice and Belarus cannot avoid it. If an enterprise in unprofitable, it is necessary to invest the money we could allocate to it in some hi-tech production that would pay taxes and have a good income the state would be able to benefit from. This is the only way. The Belarusian budget lacks money to support the today’s inefficient system. We have to look for a potential investor. If there is a potential investor ready to support the enterprises and keep the majority of its employees, it should be done and such variants should be looked for. Of course, it will result in a large-scale privatization. The state cannot be responsible for everything. If the state is in charge of everything, it will lead to bad processes and it will be ineffective. You have to look for private owners. However, it should not be done hastily.
–Is there a programme aimed at giving placement to people who will lose their jobs?
– You should not only think how to save our current enterprises. It is necessary to think how to create new ones. Let them be small, resource-conserving and very effective. When we have dozens and hundreds of such enterprises, they will provide placement to the people who will lose their jobs at state enterprises.
– How are you going to fight alcoholism?
– The majority of fruit wines are so-called “fortified wines”. In reality, they have nothing to do with fruits or wine. I am planning to limit the production of such wine. Only ordinary fruit wines made as a result of fermentation will be produced de facto. It may be cider or something that does not contain enough alcohol. I am sure that it will largely decrease hard drinking. It is also necessary to establish a severe control of the production of alcoholic beverages on top of that. Besides ruining themselves with drink, people drink low quality products and die of side deceases. They do not live long enough to die of cirrhosis. They die of other quick and more serious deceases. Speaking about hard drinking, there is a universal rule: people stop drinking when they can work for themselves, when they can make money and start a business.
–How can the housing problem be solved?
– People need to be able to work for themselves and to have a good income. No additional measures taken by the state will solve the problem if people do not have enough money to build a new flat or to buy a flat in the secondary housing market. The housing problem will not be solved without modernization and investments. On the other hand, the state will create all the conditions needed for the credit market to function. There is no hypothec in Belarus at the moment. If a person wants to take on a credit on the security of his or her real estate, it is impossible because the flat cannot be taken away from them. The bank will not be able to take away the flat because of minor children protected by the state. As a result, people are unable to take on a credit even if they can pay it. I am sure that the housing problem is not an autonomous part of the state policy. It is necessary to modernize industries and to attract investments. When people have an opportunity to make a lot of money they will take their decision: either spend the money on a new flat or use it to travel to warm countries four times a year.
– Does Belarus need assignment?
– I am sure that Belarus does not need any compulsory assignment and it should be cancelled as soon as possible.
STREET QUESTIONS
– Sometimes a person wants to come to power with good intentions but changes his world outlook when he becomes President. Do you believe in yourself, won’t your views on life change?
-I believe that my views will not change. One of the main articles of my programme is called “Active society”. I want to make it the way people could decide what they need, chose local governors, start their own business, create their civil organizations and take part in trade union activities without being scared.”Active society” is the thing I believe in. The state will be effective only when the society is able to control it.
– Won’t life become worse than it is now?
– I am going to say something unpopular: I am sure that life will change for the worse, no matter who is elected President of the Republic of Belarus on December 19, 2010.
– Does your response mean that the same will happen if Alyaksandr Ryhoravich is elected?
– Certainly. I am sure that life will become worse no matter who is elected on December 19.
– I am worried about relations with Russia because I work there. Will the old policy remain, will we finally unite, and will we introduce a common currency or not?
– We will not unite with Russia and we will not introduce a common currency. However, I am sure that we will have better trade and good-neighbourly relations with Russia.
– How are you going to increase people’s wages?
– There is no money to increase wages in the budget. It is simply not provided. You have to take it from someone. That is why it is very difficult to promise to increase wages, especially budget workers’ salaries, in the near future and I do not promise to do it. On the other hand, when the industries are modernized, the economy starts developing, when we witness economic growth, it will influence the wages. However, to provide a real increase in wages - not in amount of money people get but in their purchasing power - it will be necessary to modernize the industry and the whole society.
– Will the EU introduce a visa-free regime for Belarusians? How real is it and when will it happen?
–I think a visa-free entry to the European Union is real. It can be done in one presidential cadence. Let me remind you that a presidential cadence is 5 years. At the same time, I cannot promise to join the European Union; I do not think that joining it in the next 10 years is a realistic goal. It is not real. When I become President, I will cancel Belarusian visas for European citizens in the first place. Of course, it will not help the girls who asked the question right away, but the further development of relations with European states will result in a growing number of lobbyists asking to cancel visas for Belarusian citizens visiting the European Union.
– Will you involve your wives in big politics and in what way?
– When I decided to run for President my wife said she would agree to it only if she was not involved in politics and in the election campaign in any way. That is why my wife will not be involved in the election campaign. There are some events requiring the presence of the President’s wife. In my opinion, it is the minimum requirement observed in European countries. The President’s wife will not interfere in politics actively. On the other hand, she will take part in important actions required by the protocol.
– Why did you decide you were able to become President?
– I am sure that I am educated and experienced enough to rule the state, I understand people’s needs. I can help people get the leader they deserve. In my opinion, a President is an employee, a director hired by the people. I am sure I will be an efficient leader.
– Many people associate Lukashenka with stability. What can you offer to them?
– I can offer modernization of different spheres of life and development of all the good things Belarus has at its disposal at the moment.
– Ales Mihalevich achieves his goal and becomes President. Have you already chosen the people you will appoint new Ministers, governors and other managers?
– I am sure that I have the people who can become our new government. There are famous people among them. Some of them are young specialists. Speaking about governors, I should say that I believe in local government. I believe that heads of provinces and districts should be elected by inhabitants of these cities.
– Will you bring a new team with you or will some of the current Ministers stay in their positions?
– It will depend on their professionalism. However, I think it is essential that Belarus should develop a system where that the arrival of a new Minister means the arrival of his or her team. It is a so-called cabinet: advisers working out the policy. Every new Minister should not change the whole structure of the Ministry and should not replace all the people working there.
– What should happen to “White Russia” and the BRYU?
– Every civil organization has a right to exist. I think that people should be able to gather and establish a civil organization. The organization should not violate the legislation – it should not promote fascism, violence, xenophobia and so on. Then it does have a right to exist. The same will be applied to “White Russia” and the BRUY – they have a right to exist. Whether they can exist without state subsidies is quite another matter. I think that the state should support civil organizations on a competitive basis. I am not really sure that “White Russia” and the BRYU are the most effective organizations having the most effective programmes now.
–How many policemen per citizen should we have? Does our number of policemen correspond to it or not? What will happen to them?
–No matter who gains power, the state leader will have to conduct serious economic reforms. It is known that economic changes often cause an increase in crime - criminals come out. That is why I do not think we should discuss any staff reduction in the police. On the other hand, there are a lot of people who are not involved in keeping the order and looking for criminals directly in the police. There are various professional services and commissions of experts. These are completely different departments, their employees wear the police uniform but they are not involved in the work of the police. These people will become civilian employees.
– How can the inflation be curbed? It is necessary to let the prices grow until “everything settles”?
– I do not believe in state price formation. On the other hand, it is possible to give people an opportunity to have an adequate income and to make a lot of money. The state can influence it directly.
– Is it necessary to close down all unprofitable enterprises right away?
–If an enterprise is indebted to other subjects, the bankruptcy procedure is the only way to recover the debt. That is why it is clear that the artificial support of unprofitable enterprises should be ceased gradually. It is a normal world practice and Belarus cannot avoid it. If an enterprise in unprofitable, it is necessary to invest the money we could allocate to it in some hi-tech production that would pay taxes and have a good income the state would be able to benefit from. This is the only way. The Belarusian budget lacks money to support the today’s inefficient system. We have to look for a potential investor. If there is a potential investor ready to support the enterprises and keep the majority of its employees, it should be done and such variants should be looked for. Of course, it will result in a large-scale privatization. The state cannot be responsible for everything. If the state is in charge of everything, it will lead to bad processes and it will be ineffective. You have to look for private owners. However, it should not be done hastily.
–Is there a programme aimed at giving placement to people who will lose their jobs?
– You should not only think how to save our current enterprises. It is necessary to think how to create new ones. Let them be small, resource-conserving and very effective. When we have dozens and hundreds of such enterprises, they will provide placement to the people who will lose their jobs at state enterprises.
– How are you going to fight alcoholism?
– The majority of fruit wines are so-called “fortified wines”. In reality, they have nothing to do with fruits or wine. I am planning to limit the production of such wine. Only ordinary fruit wines made as a result of fermentation will be produced de facto. It may be cider or something that does not contain enough alcohol. I am sure that it will largely decrease hard drinking. It is also necessary to establish a severe control of the production of alcoholic beverages on top of that. Besides ruining themselves with drink, people drink low quality products and die of side deceases. They do not live long enough to die of cirrhosis. They die of other quick and more serious deceases. Speaking about hard drinking, there is a universal rule: people stop drinking when they can work for themselves, when they can make money and start a business.
–How can the housing problem be solved?
– People need to be able to work for themselves and to have a good income. No additional measures taken by the state will solve the problem if people do not have enough money to build a new flat or to buy a flat in the secondary housing market. The housing problem will not be solved without modernization and investments. On the other hand, the state will create all the conditions needed for the credit market to function. There is no hypothec in Belarus at the moment. If a person wants to take on a credit on the security of his or her real estate, it is impossible because the flat cannot be taken away from them. The bank will not be able to take away the flat because of minor children protected by the state. As a result, people are unable to take on a credit even if they can pay it. I am sure that the housing problem is not an autonomous part of the state policy. It is necessary to modernize industries and to attract investments. When people have an opportunity to make a lot of money they will take their decision: either spend the money on a new flat or use it to travel to warm countries four times a year.
– Does Belarus need assignment?
– I am sure that Belarus does not need any compulsory assignment and it should be cancelled as soon as possible.
STREET QUESTIONS
– Sometimes a person wants to come to power with good intentions but changes his world outlook when he becomes President. Do you believe in yourself, won’t your views on life change?
-I believe that my views will not change. One of the main articles of my programme is called “Active society”. I want to make it the way people could decide what they need, chose local governors, start their own business, create their civil organizations and take part in trade union activities without being scared.”Active society” is the thing I believe in. The state will be effective only when the society is able to control it.
– Won’t life become worse than it is now?
– I am going to say something unpopular: I am sure that life will change for the worse, no matter who is elected President of the Republic of Belarus on December 19, 2010.
– Does your response mean that the same will happen if Alyaksandr Ryhoravich is elected?
– Certainly. I am sure that life will become worse no matter who is elected on December 19.
– I am worried about relations with Russia because I work there. Will the old policy remain, will we finally unite, and will we introduce a common currency or not?
– We will not unite with Russia and we will not introduce a common currency. However, I am sure that we will have better trade and good-neighbourly relations with Russia.
– How are you going to increase people’s wages?
– There is no money to increase wages in the budget. It is simply not provided. You have to take it from someone. That is why it is very difficult to promise to increase wages, especially budget workers’ salaries, in the near future and I do not promise to do it. On the other hand, when the industries are modernized, the economy starts developing, when we witness economic growth, it will influence the wages. However, to provide a real increase in wages - not in amount of money people get but in their purchasing power - it will be necessary to modernize the industry and the whole society.
– Will the EU introduce a visa-free regime for Belarusians? How real is it and when will it happen?
–I think a visa-free entry to the European Union is real. It can be done in one presidential cadence. Let me remind you that a presidential cadence is 5 years. At the same time, I cannot promise to join the European Union; I do not think that joining it in the next 10 years is a realistic goal. It is not real. When I become President, I will cancel Belarusian visas for European citizens in the first place. Of course, it will not help the girls who asked the question right away, but the further development of relations with European states will result in a growing number of lobbyists asking to cancel visas for Belarusian citizens visiting the European Union.
– Will you involve your wives in big politics and in what way?
– When I decided to run for President my wife said she would agree to it only if she was not involved in politics and in the election campaign in any way. That is why my wife will not be involved in the election campaign. There are some events requiring the presence of the President’s wife. In my opinion, it is the minimum requirement observed in European countries. The President’s wife will not interfere in politics actively. On the other hand, she will take part in important actions required by the protocol.
