Systems of multilevel governance[1]

Local authorities are highly dependent on central authorities. Communal property is just geographically allocated state property. Local authorities have limited capabilities for getting revenue from own sources and to make independent spending decisions.

Local authorities have exclusive competence to set local taxes, but in practice this possibility is limited to only three small taxes and fees that are not a considerable source of revenue. A huge part of sub-national government revenues are dependent on central government.
While expenditure decisions may be taken, higher bodies can block these decisions Almost all levels of authority have overlapping powers.
Local authorities do not use all the opportunities that are formally granted to them. For example, they can create associations, while in practice no such organizations have been created.

Representation: The main body of regional representation in Belarus is the Council of the Republic (the upper house of the National Assembly). Six oblasts and Minsk city elect eight representatives each to the parliament. Elections are held by secret ballot at the sittings of deputies of local Councils of Deputies of the basic level of every region (oblast and Minsk city). Eight members of the Council of the Republic are appointed by the president. Local Councils of Deputies have the right to establish associations of councils of deputies in the form of an NGO, while in practice no such organizations have been created.

Information: Legal information is transmitted from the upper bodies on a “top-down” basis.

Consultation: There is no statutory established consultation process with LRAs.

Coordination:. There are two main bodies that coordinate relations between national and local authorities. The Council for Cooperation of Local Self-Government Bodies in the Council of the Republic seeks to coordinate relations with self-governing units, to explain state policy in the field of local self-government and contribute “to ensuring a balanced approach to serve both state and local interests in the process of elaboration and implementation of social and economic programmes”. The Council of Ministers coordinates the relations with– sub-national executive and administrative units.


[1] Council of European Municipalities and Regions, Consultation procedures within European States, 2007.​