Presidential election 2020 in Belarus

Belarus CEC: Presidential election will be held in unique conditions in 2020

Lidia Yermoshina

MINSK, 8 May (BelTA) – The 2020 presidential election will be held in a very unique setting, Chairperson of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Belarus Lidia Yermoshina said at a parliamentary session on 8 May, BelTA has learned.

According to the CEC head, “this election campaign will be held in a very unique environment” due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. “It will be very different from the all presidential election campaigns held before,” said Lidia Yermoshina.

Changes will apply to all the participants of the campaign. For example, signature collectors will be obliged to follow the recommendations of the Healthcare Ministry. All of them will be provided with personal protective equipment (PPE).

Election-related meetings of oblast, district and city executive committees will be held without observers, representatives of parties and public associations. “The executive bodies will be instructed to stream such meetings on their websites or upload their recorded versions so that all stakeholders could watch them,” said Lidia Yermoshina.

She added that observers shall comply with the recommendations of the Healthcare Ministry on social distancing and the use of PPE. For now, the matter concerns national observers only. The CEC head said she cannot yet say whether international experts will come to Belarus to observe the election.

When talking to the media, Lidia Yermoshina said that the pandemic has also influenced the campaign in part of voters' presence  within the country in August (traditionally a holiday month) during their recuperation time. “Even if they are on holiday during this time, we will provide them with all the opportunities to vote at the place of their stay,” stressed the CEC chairperson. For example, students will be able to vote at their place of permanent residence, people who spend their holiday time in summer cottages at the rural councils.

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