BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

21/12/2006

Belarussian opposition actively running in local elections - CentralElections Commission chief

MINSK. Dec 21 (Interfax) - The Belarussian opposition is taking active part in local elections in Belarus, Belarussian Central Elections Commission chief Lydia Yermoshina said.

"I would say the opposition is taking very active part in elections to local councils," Yermoshina told journalists in Minsk on Thursday.

"The most active party in the elections in general in the country is the Communist Party of Belarus," Yermoshina said. "The Belarussian Popular Front and the United Civil Party are in second place," she said.

The opposition's active involvement in these elections can be confirmed by the fact that "two leaders of the two main opposition parties are running in them - Lebedko [Anatoly Lebedko, the United Civil Party leader] and Vecherko [Vintsuk Vecherko, the Belarussian Popular Front leader]," she said.

"I welcome such activity from the parties. Any party is set up exactly in order to run in elections. If a party does not run in elections, there is no need for it," she said.

Commenting on the Communist Party's reported intention to recall their candidates from the race, Yermoshina noted that, according to Belarussian law, "nobody can force anyone to run in elections if a candidate does not want to be elected.

Source:

http://www.interfax.com/3/225278/news.aspx