How is the government of belarus different from those of other european countries? a. it is a theocracy led by religious leaders. b. it is a dictatorship with a ruler who has held power for many years. c. it is a monarch, in which power is handed down to members of a royal family. d. it has a written constitution that limits the power of the government. 9

The correct answer is: B. A dictatorship with a ruler who has held power for many years.

Although in 1994 Belarus's constitution made it a "democratic, social state" that guaranteed several rights and freedoms, 1996 it was modified. President Alyaksandr Lukashenka, elected in 1994, managed to expand his powers ruling by decree and reducing parlament's ones.

Westerns observers had not recognized Belarus elections as free and democratic since 2001, in 2004 Lukashenka made a referendum allowing the president (himself) to serve for more than two terms. His government has been accused of being antidemocratic (no new political party has been able to register since 2000) and of ignoring human rights such as freedom of speech or applying death penalty.

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