BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

Jun 13, 2005, 12:17 GMT

Belarusian opposition coalition to select new presidential hopeful

Minsk, 13 June: The political parties and NGOs that advocate Belarus's European development direction are expected to decide on the presidential hopeful they will back in the 2006 presidential election before 1 July, a leader of the Social Democratic movement [and the opposition European Coalition], Mikalay Statkevich, told Belapan.

The need to look for a new leader appeared after Statkevich, who had been put forward as a hopeful for the [opposition] single presidential candidate's post, was sentenced to three years of restricted freedom [community service] for organizing protests in Minsk against the official results of the [17 October] parliamentary elections and referendum on 18-19 October 2004. Thus, in accordance with legislation, Statkevich has no right to stand for the presidency.

The politician said representatives of the pro-European coalition will back either the leader of the United Civic Party, Anatol Lyabedzka, or an NGO leader, Alyaksandr Milinkevich. Preliminary consultations have been held with these politicians.

"We proceeded from three criteria. First, a nominee should advocate a pro-European path of development for this country. Second, he should participate in the general process of nominating a single candidate. We will not work towards a split, we will work towards the consolidation of pro-democracy forces. Third, he should appeal for support himself," Statkevich said. The politician noted that the list of contenders had been completed.

Statkevich said he would refrain from supporting one of the two contenders in public. "The European Coalition should itself select its nominee whom it will back in the election," the politician said.

Source: Belapan news agency, Minsk, in Russian 0833 gmt 13 Jun 05

BBC Mon KVU 130605 gk/vk

Source:

http://news.monstersandcritics.com/mediamonitor/article_1011718.php/Belarusian_opposition_coalition_to_select_new_presidential_hopeful