Lukashenko’s Belarus set to extend 29-year rule with exit poll results

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko is on course to secure a seventh term in office, with exit polls showing him with 87.6% of the vote in Sunday’s presidential election. The results, broadcast on state TV, indicate the long-term leader is extending his 29-year grip on power.

This is the first presidential election in Belarus since the 2020 vote, which sparked mass protests over allegations of widespread fraud. After the protests, Lukashenko’s government cracked down on dissent, jailing more than 1,000 people, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski.

The vote comes as Belarus remains aligned with Russia, even allowing its territory to be used as staging ground for Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Lukashenko Defiant

Speaking in Minsk after his vote, Lukashenko described Belarus as a “hard democracy”, arguing that his government does not suppress dissent. “All our opponents and enemies must understand: we will never repeat what happened in 2020,” he said, referring to the protests.

Despite Lukashenko’s claims, opposition voices have denounced the election as undemocratic. The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, called the vote a “fake” and said Lukashenko has no legitimacy.

The opposition is silent

The election was characterized by limited campaigning and low public enthusiasm. Lukashenko himself stated that he was “too busy running the country” to campaign actively. His four challengers are largely seen as loyalists, chosen to give the vote an air of legitimacy.

Communist Party candidate Sergei Shirankov has publicly endorsed Lukashenko, as have other candidates. Opposition elements remain in exile or jail, and some 300,000 Belarusians who fled the country after the 2020 crackdown were barred from voting abroad.

No appetite for protest

The streets of Belarus remain quiet, with little sign of resistance. Fear of arrest has silenced dissent, while even opposition groups abroad have urged caution, saying now is not the time to protest.

Some analysts suggest Lukashenko may be seeking to improve relations with the West by allowing foreign journalists to cover the election. Al Jazeera’s Bernard Smith noted that this could signal a strategic shift as Belarus positions itself for a possible post-war landscape in the region.

“Europe’s Last Dictator”

Lukashenko, often referred to as “Europe’s last dictator”, has ruled Belarus since 1994. His administration relies heavily on financial and political support from Russia.

Critics say these elections further entrench his authoritarian rule, leaving little room for genuine opposition or reform. However, with protests crushed and dissented, Lukashenko appears firmly in control of the country’s future.