Elections in Belarus. ACI point of view.

Parliamentary Elections, View from our site.

Last modified: April 24, 2001

Just a reminder. This is a private opinion of a rank and file citizen. Thanks to the Internet he got an opportunity to say a word and, hopefully, to be heard.

First of all, I'd say that the elections into the specifically tailored to fit into the President's pocket Parliament do not invoke much agitation among the general public. The most interested parties are the candidates themselves (no wonder, five years of relatively high living standards with all sorts of benefits and privileges for the rest of the life guarantied are worth fighting for), the President (to make sure that the newly elected Parliament does not show up out of the pocket) and International policy makers (Belarus, or better to say the President Lukashenko is as a mosquito for them, though not really dangerous, but annoying).

Why the indifference?

The Belarusian Parliament in its current status is just a modern decoration to the rock solid bureaucratic "Presidential vertical". It has no real power, no real influence. And there are no signs, that the situation will change as a result of the elections.
You may wish to check up Our View of Political Situation in Belarus for more details. Though written some time ago I think it is still relevant.

Some words about the candidates.

Frankly, I could not say that any one has caught my attention, though there are quite a few of them. Same leaflets, same slogans, same promises, same accusations to their acting colleagues, same explanations why they are better then others. No fresh ideas, no creativity, no personalities, no imagination, no real answers to the real questions.

Will people come to vote?

You might find it being inconsistent, but I'd say Yes. About 60% will come. Do not ask me why. Let's take it as is.

PS. Belta Press, October 16, 2000
VOTER TURN OUT OVERALL IS 60,6 PERCENT IN FIRST ROUND OF ELECTION
In the course of the press conference on 16 October electoral commission chief Lidiya Yermoshina said that the parliamentary elections in the republic can be considered valid. According to the preliminary results voter turn out was 60,6 per cent in the first round of the elections to the Chamber of Representatives of the National Assembly.