How BSDP (Hramada) was created

The revival of social democracy in Belarus began during the period of democratization of the USSR, in the years of "perestroika". A group of Belarusian intellectuals – Mikhas Tkachou, Mikhas Charnyouski, Anatol Sidarevich – came to the conclusion in 1990 that it was time to revive the movement of democratic socialists in our country.

On March 2, 1991, the Belarusian Social Democratic Hramada was created. Alongside M. Tkachou, who was elected party chairman, the leadership of BSDH included Aleh Trusau (who headed the party after M. Tkachou's death), Anatol Hurynovich, Mikalai Statkevich, Vital Malashka, and others.

Simultaneously, social-democratic tendencies emerged within the Communist Party of Belarus. After several unsuccessful attempts to create a social-democratic movement within the CPB, a group of party intellectuals (Leanid Loika, Uladzimir Bazhanau, Aliaksei Karol, Aliaksandr Kazulin), as well as a group of deputies of the Supreme Soviet of Belarus (Aliaksandr Lukashenka, Vasil Dauhaleu, Viktar Hanchar, Henadz Karpenka) decided to found a new party – the Party of People's Accord. (Lukashenka stepped away from the work of the Organizing Committee in December 1991). In April 1992, at the founding congress of the PPA, G. Karpenka was elected its chairman.

The two parties – BSDH and PPA – gradually drew closer. In 1995, the Social Democratic Union (SDU) was created. A group of non-party figures joined the unification process, in particular the Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of Belarus of the 12th convocation, Mechyslau Hryb.

On June 29, 1996, extraordinary congresses of BSDH and PPA were held, which decided to merge into one Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Narodnaya Hramada). On the same day, the Founding Congress of the BSDP took place.

No unification happens according to the formula 1+1.

Pro-presidential members of the PPA did not join the BSDP, nor did supporters of liberalism in BSDH and PPA, including A. Trusau, G. Karpenka, V. Hanchar. But even within the BSDP(NH) itself, disputes and internal party struggles did not stop, which were especially fueled by inconsistency in policy, as well as the authoritarian style of work and the incorrectness of the party chairman M. Statkevich. In 2001, for these reasons, almost half of its members left the party, including M. Hryb, A. Karol, L. Loika, A. Sidarevich, M. Charnyouski.

• In the summer of 2004,
• the second crisis in the party began,
• which ended in December.

In January 2005, the 9th Congress of the BSDP was held. Anatol Liaukovich was elected its chairman. The process of returning veterans and the majority of the former active members to the party began. On June 24, 2005, the BSDP was re-registered as the Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Hramada). On July 24, at the 10th extraordinary congress, Aliaksandr Kazulin, former rector of BSU and minister, and the party's presidential candidate in 2006, was elected its new leader.

CHRONICLE

1991, March 2 - Belarusian Social Democratic Hramada (BSDH) formed. Mikhas Tkachou (1942–1992) elected party chairman.

1992, April 14 - Party of People's Accord (PPA) formed.

1992, December 20 - 2nd Congress of BSDH. Party Program adopted. Aleh Trusau elected chairman of BSDH.

1995, July 1 - 3rd Congress of BSDH. Mikalai Statkevich elected party chairman.

1996, June 29 - Unification Congress of BSDH and PPA. Formation of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Narodnaya Hramada).

2001, December 2 - Departure of a large group of members from the party.

2004, June-December - Second crisis of the BSDP(NH).

2005, January 15 - 9th extraordinary congress of the BSDP(NH). Anatol Liaukovich elected party chairman.

2005, June 24 - Party re-registered as the Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Hramada).

2005, January-July - Return to the party of social democrats who left it in 2001.

2005, July 24 - 10th extraordinary congress of the BSDP (Hramada). Aliaksandr Kazulin elected party chairman.