Updated at 17:53,27-03-2024

Milinkevich congratulates German Chancellor Merkel on election win

BelaPAN

Alyaksandr Milinkevich, leader of the Movement for Freedom, has congratulated German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the victory of her bloc, the Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union of Bavaria (CDU/CSU), in Sunday`s federal parliamentary elections.

In his message, Mr. Milinkevich wishes the parties to form a workable majority in the Bundestag and expresses hope that Ms. Merkel will continue to serve as German chancellor for the benefit of her country, said the press office of the Movement for Freedom.

"Belarus`pro-European forces view Germany, the leading country in united Europe, as the main partner in rapprochement between Belarus and the European Union and the promotion of European integration values among the Belarusians," Mr. Milinkevich says. "We highly value the assistance that Germany and the CDU provide to Belarus’ civil society. We are convinced that our cooperation, based on the values of freedom and human rights, will continue in order to eliminate authoritarianism and dividing lines in Europe and ensure the return of Belarus in the European family of democratic nations."

According to preliminary reports, the CDU/CSU won 33.8 percent of the vote in Sunday`s elections. It was followed with 23 percent by the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) led by Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who ran for chancellor, the Free Democratic Party (FDP) with 14.6 percent, the Left with 11.9 percent and the Alliance 90/Greens with 10.7 percent.