Events

MINSK, 18 September (BelTA) – The draft law “Concerning amendments and additions to some laws of the Republic of Belarus on conducting elections and referendums” is to be discussed in the first reading on 2 October at the parliamentary sitting that will open the spring session of the House of Representatives, Chairman of the State Development, Local Self-Government, and Regulation Commission of the House of Representatives Alexander Zozulya told BelTA.

The MP noted that the elaboration of this draft law is supervised by the State Development, Local Self-Government, and Regulation Commission. This and other commissions are now actively working on the bill. If they maintain the same pace of work, the bill will be presented at the Oval Hall on 2 October. Alexander Zozulya underlined that the MPs are well familiar with the bill, because they studied it at the preparation stage during the year.

In line with the bill, expenses associated with electoral campaigns of candidates will no longer be financed out of the budget. Instead, this responsibility will be transferred to local territorial and precinct election commissions that will print information leaflets and send them to voters together with the invitation to visit polling stations. Presidential and parliamentary candidates will retain the right for the free airtime and print space at state-run media outlets to make a media appearance, take part in debates and publish platforms.

Candidates’ individual campaign funds are to be increased. Financial funds for candidates to local councils of deputies will be introduced. The limit on campaign funds for parliamentary candidates is expected to stay unchanged and will make up 1,000 basic amounts (one basic amount is now Br100,000).