“Tkachou's resignation in positive, Prakapovich's appointment is neutral"

“Journalists keep waiting for some economic changes. Why? Nobody needs any markets until they divide the property, they aren't idiots, are they?", - economist Leanid Zaika reacted to our request to comment on Syarhei Tkachou's resignation from the position of the President's assistant in economic issues in a rather emotional way.

Adherent of Stalin's economic methods, Tkachou was considered to be a odious person.  He published two huge articles praising the Belarusian stability and its unique economic model in the Administration's newspaper "Belarus Today" a few months before the record devaluation of the Belarusian rouble.

Now Lukashenka will discuss the economy with Pyotr Prakapovich - another famous person in Belarus.

Unlike the majority of Belarusian officials, Prakapovich does not have anything to lose. He is a pensioner and his reputation was already spoilt by the events of May 2011. So, he can say anything he likes to Lukashenka.

Economist Syarhei Chaly thinks that Prakapovich will not organize any revolution. He cannot be called an advocate of market economy. Pyotr Pyatrovoch had to refuse from non-market economy methods because he was the head of the National Bank.

Chaly is not excited. He says that Prakapovich's appointment can even be a negative event.

“Tkachou's resignation is a positive event. But Prakapovich's appointment is neutral if not a bit negative".

You can agree with Chaly is you recall the results of Prakapovich's work in the position of the head of the National Bank - his illness and the devaluation shock for the whole country.