OSCE on Belarus Parliamentary elections: campaign strictly regulated and largerly invisible

Campaigning is strictly regulated and to date remains largely invisible, a significant number of prior recommendations are yet to be addressed, OSCE said in its interim report on the forthcoming parlimentary elections in Belarus.

The report mainly contains electoral data: the number of candidates, voters, organization of the elections.

The authors of the document underline that the Belarusian “electoral legal framework was last substantially amended in 2013”.

In addition, an Interagency Working Group was established in February 2016 to consider prior OSCE/ODIHR recommendations, which submitted seven proposals to the Central Election Commission (CEC) related to technical aspects of the electoral process. The CEC adopted six resolutions addressing some of these recommendations.

A significant number of prior OSCE/ODIHR recommendations are yet to be addressed, the report stresses.

The authors of the report have remarks regarding the formation of Precinct Election Commissions (PECs). They note, in particular, that “only a marginal number of PEC members are from opposition nominating bodies”. All commissions have so far met legal deadlines for the administration of the elections.

There is no centralized voter register.

The OSCE/ODIHR EOM has been made aware of 408 applications and complaints filed with the election commissions, local authorities and courts. The majority of complaints have been rejected.

The authors of the interim report arrive at a conclusion that the campaigning is strictly regulated and at present remains largely invisible.

Elections to the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the Belarusian parliament, are scheduled for 11 September. Representatives will be elected for a four-year term under a oneround majoritarian system in 110 single-mandate constituencies.