Updated at 17:53,27-03-2024

Presidential campaign to start in Belarus in August 2015

Belsat

"August 2015 will mark the start of the election campaign. The presidential election is to be held by 20 November 2015," news agency BelTA quotes Lidziya Yarmoshyna, Chairperson of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Belarus.

According to election laws, a citizen of Belarus who was born here and possesses a right to vote may participate in a presidential race. The regulations rule out anyone under the age of 18 and those who have not stayed for 10 years in our country by the moment of an election.

Old song to new tune

Today Belarusian MPs have approved the second reading of amendments to the election law, which is harshly criticized by some opposition parties and NGOs.

The project provides a number of developments in the law, e.g. a change in financing election campaigns: a candidate must draw up a personal asset of 9,000 basic units to run their campaign (earlier the amount reached 3,000 b.u.)

According to the amendments, during election campaigns any actions calling for boycotting, postponing or cancelling an election (referendum) will be outlawed.The document also sets a limit to a number of persons having a right to ask for vote recounting: only candidates and election committees will be able to take such an opportunity.

These amendments to the Election Code will only move Belarus away from holding a free, fair and transparent election, opposition leaders say.