Europe’s longest-serving authoritarian leader, Belarus’ Alexander Lukashenko, is set to run for a seventh term on Jan. 26, 2025. And even before the first vote is counted, it can be stated with a fair degree of confidence that he will prevail.
With no genuine opposition and a history of vote rigging, Lukashenko – in power since 1994 – has further slanted things in his favor this time around by banning overseas voting, removing the minimum turnout threshold and awarding himself lifelong immunity and a permanent seat in parliament.
But while the 2025 election is unlikely to bring change, it is, nonetheless, consequential.
