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Tikhanovskaya, who fled to Lithuania last week, said in a video message that she was prepared to take the reins in Minsk should the nation void President Alexander Lukashenko's election victory and return to the voting booth.Meanwhile, Lukashenko is prepping the third version of the constitution for vote as prior versions were unsatisfactory. He also eased his rhetoric on a new election:
"I am ready to take responsibility and act as a national leader during this period," Tikhanovskaya said, adding that opposition activists, who have been protesting for a week, should continue to push for change.
"We do need a new constitution. I was offered two versions. I rejected them because they differ little from this one. Work is underway on a third version." Protesters demand that Lukashenko step down and give way for a new election; the president himself says he is not against the change - but that it should proceed without coercion.Lukashenko relents, new elections but only after a new constitution is adopted:
"We're putting it for a vote, adopting the constitution, and I'm handing over my powers according to the constitution," he offered. "But not under pressure and not through street [action]!"
"This is what will happen... We need to adopt a new constitution - that is what you wanted. You need to adopt it via a referendum since this was how the previous constitution was approved. Under this new constitution, elections could be held - parliamentary, presidential and local - if that is what you want."See also:
Massive strikes prompted Lukashenko to hold some meetings with workers. The country's opposition media was quick to describe the events as a nationwide strike.
"The world must act jointly and swiftly to revamp all aspects of our societies and economies, from education to social contracts and working conditions... Every country, from the United States to China, must participate, and every industry, from oil and gas to tech, must be transformed. In short, we need a 'Great Reset' of capitalism."
Comment: As the US increases deflection, it diminishes credibility. America's real enemies are operating from within.