Belarusian authorities seem ready to reintroduce some pension guarantees to relax tension in society

Belarusian MPs have proposed to the Council of Ministers to include maternity leave, military service and study in the university in the pension insurance record. The authorities are likely to accept some of the proposed changes, for example, maternity leave and military service. Some opposition organisations have used the issue of reduced pension guarantees in their programmes and campaigns during the parliamentary elections (eg the centre-right coalition, Tell the Truth) and while making official contacts with deputies and the executive to put pressure on the authorities (Tell the Truth). In addition, amid the absence of success in improving people’s well-being, if the authorities reintroduce some social guarantees, their ratings are likely to improve. The authorities are likely to continue the practice of adopting unpopular measures and later rescind some most controversial in order to relax tension in society and demonstrate responsiveness to public outcry.