The tasks of the president include executing foreign and domestic policy, defending the rights and general welfare of citizens and residents, and upholding the Constitution.

The president is mandated by the Constitution to serve as a leader in the social affairs of the country and to act as its main representative abroad.

[3][4] CIS Member State Parliamentary elections Belarus first declared independence in early 1918 as the Belarusian Democratic Republic.

Its head of state was the president of a provisional supreme governing body, the Rada of the Belarusian Democratic Republic.

[citation needed] The Republic of Belarus was formed in 1991 shortly after declaring itself independent of the Soviet Union.

The president is also entrusted with the safety, prosperity and stability of the country and acts as an intermediary between the bodies of the national government.

If the Central Elections Commissions find that this threshold has been reached, the candidate is officially certified to run for the presidency.

[11] President Lukashenko, when addressing the press in February 2007, stated his health will determine if he will run in 2011 or step down at that time.

The president signs bills, and has the right to veto and return it, fully or in parts, with objections to the House of Representatives.

The president delivers messages to the citizens several times a year and can issue decrees to establish red letter days and national holidays.

The president is the main authority for the granting of Belarusian citizen and can present state decorations to honored individuals.

Regardless if the declaration affects the entire country or sections of it, the Council of the Republic must be notified by the president and must seek their approval within three days of notification.

The same rules applies if the president issues a state of martial law in the event of a possible military action against Belarus.

The text of the oath is as follows: Assuming the office of President of the Republic of Belarus, I solemnly swear to faithfully serve the people of the Republic of Belarus, to respect and safeguard the rights and liberties of man and citizen, to abide by and protect the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus, and to discharge strictly and conscientiously the lofty duties that have been bestowed upon me.During the inauguration ceremony, members of both houses of the National Assembly, government ministers, officials and judges from the Constitutional, Supreme and Economic Court must be present.

In order for this to happen, a two-thirds majority must be reached in the House of Representatives and the Council of the Republic on the resolution to remove the president.

[9] An ad hoc committee is formed and must make the determination about the state of health before any motion can begin.

[9] Information, either printed in the news or reported on television, that is considered defamation against the president is illegal under Article 5 of the Belarusian Law on Press.

[13][14] The Presidential Palace (Belarusian: Рэзідэнцыя Прэзідэнта, Russian: Резиденция президента) is a Stalinist Empire style building located on October Square in Minsk surrounded by the streets of Marx, Engels, Kirov and Komsomol.

Tsikhanouskaya would go on to create the Coordination Council, recognised by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus as an extremist organisation.