Belaya Rus to observe elections, to nominate candidates, to count votes
Mikalai Lazavik, the secretary of the Central Elections Commission, has assured the European Radio for Belarus that the teachers, who will work as members of election commissions, follow the law.
“When they say that teachers will work as members of election commission and their boss, Education Minister Aliaksandr Radzkou, is the leader of Belaya Rus who could put pressure as the chairman of this public association, I would stress that there would be no pressure. The reason is simple: every member of an election commission follows the electoral laws rather than the programs or statues of a political or public organization”, he told the European Radio for Belarus.
Mikalai Lazavik recalls the previous elections when BRSM (Belarusian Republican Youth Union) took an active part in the work of election commissions. In the view of the Central Elections Commission’s secretary, no violations were reported.
“Numerous BRSM members worked as members of election commissions or as observers. But it doesn’t mean that during the electoral campaign they were pursuing any of their statue and program goals”, he said.
But political analyst Uladzimir Matskevich compares the upcoming elections with the polls in the Soviet Union when representatives of the communist party worked as observers, members of election committees and candidates at the same time. The communist party members also counted votes and approved the elected lawmakers.
Uladzimir Matskevich: “Just like back then there are people who have not changed their thinking. For those who understand, the situation is obvious. One can talk about democracy only when the opposition forces take part in election commissions or work as observers”.
Ms Yarmoshina sees no problem here. Moreover, Belaya Rus is formally not allowed to nominate candidates, because members of public associations can participate in elections only on behalf of political parties, working collectives or by gathering signatures.
Lidziya Yarmoshyna: “Belaya Rus candidates will be able to take part in the elections but not as Belaya Rus candidates. That’s why Belaya Rus will participate in the elections by assigning their representatives to election commissions, rallying for the candidates that are members of Belaya Rus but who are nominated by other means.
Viktar Huminski, the head of the Minsk regional branch of Belaya Rus, cannot say definitely yet how many members of his organization will take part in the elections.
“There will be observers from all the parties, not only from Belaya Rus. They will look at the things very seriously. So, we should not talk about objectivity or subjectivity. As a rule, we always see objectivity after elections. Everything is ok,” he said.
In the view of Viktar Huminski, the teachers who comprise the majority of election commissions are educated people. Therefore, they will do everything properly.
“When there were some violations of the electoral law and when members of commissions did not follow the law but were guided by their organizations, those cases were to be eradicated by the elections organizers. Simply, such members were to be excluded from election commissions”, says Mikalai Lazavik.
When setting up election commissions, the Central Elections Commission adheres to two principles: succession and rotation. It means that part of the experienced observers will continue to work during the next elections, while another part must be formed from new observers.
During the previous parliamentary elections, very few opposition members managed to become part of election commissions.
“In 2004, hundreds of representatives of the united opposition applied to the constituency election commissions. Out of them, only 3-4 people got through to election commissions across Belarus”, recalls Uladzimir Labkovich, the head of the legal committee at the Party of the Belarusian Popular Front.
It is very likely that Belaya Rus members will observe, be nominated as candidates and count the votes at the parliamentary elections in September 2008.
