Opinions & Interviews

Belarus offers many opportunities for decent participation in elections

MINSK, 6 March (BelTA) – The electoral legislation of Belarus offers many opportunities for decent participation in election campaigns, Chairman of the Permanent Commission for State Construction, Local Government and Regulations Alexander Zozulya said prior to a meeting with a delegation of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) on 6 March, BelTA has learnt.

“We have many opportunities, preferences to enable candidates to make a name for themselves during an election campaign and get a decent result,” Alexander Zozulya said.

These opportunities include a possibility to open and use a personal fund for additional financing of the election campaign. Alexander Zozulya said that while being a parliamentary candidate he took advantage of this opportunity during the 2012 parliamentary elections to buy air time and newspaper space.

The Permanent Commission for State Construction, Local Government and Regulations is expected to work on the amendments to the Electoral Code. During the meeting with the OSCE/ODIHR delegation, the MP noted that the commission has already discussed the proposed amendments. “We are wary of the proposal to allow public associations to nominate their candidates; these organizations should stick to the activities formalized by their charters,” Alexander Zozulya said.

While opening the meeting, the MP noted that the commission is determined to engage in a constructive dialogue with the OSCE/ODIHR delegation. “We are ready to hear out your proposals and consider all the constructive ideas, everything that would benefit the electoral law and the overall situation in the country,” the MP said.

Senior election advisor at the OSCE/ODIHR Tatyana Bogushevich thanked the Belarusian side for their attitude. “The OSCE/ODIHR experts wanted to know which recommendations articulated in the OSCE final report on the 2012 parliamentary elections in Belarus are viewed as most important for you. The experts would like to know when the amendments will be ready and how the process will be administered,” she said.

Alexander Zozulya informed the OSCE/ODIHR delegation about new ideas and projects, and implementation of the electoral law during the elections to the National Assembly of Belarus of the fifth convocation.

“I would like you to put forward constructive proposals based on the OSCE/ODIHR’ analysis of electoral laws used in Europe and the world,” the Belarusian MP said addressing the OSCE/ODIHR delegation. 

Taking part in the meeting was also Deputy Chairman of the Permanent Commission for State Construction, Local Government and Regulations Piotr Shikshnyan and member of the Permanent Commission for International Affairs Valentina Leonenko.

Besides senior election advisor Tatyana Bogushevich, the OSCE/ODIHR delegation included election advisor Lusine Badalyan.

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