The future presidential campaign is to start in August 2015

The Chairperson of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Belarus denies the possibility of an early presidential election and sets a data for the next presidential elections.

“August 2015 will mark the start of the election campaign. The presidential election is to be held by 20 November 2015,” Belsat reports Lidzija Jarmoshyna’s words. 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

On November 13 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.

Commenting on suppositions that there may be an early presidential election, Lidzija Jarmoshyna said, “This is someone’s imagination.”

“This is not even considered,” the head of the Central Elections Commission said according to Itar-Tass. Jarmoshyna noted that according to legislation the election must be held not later than two months before the expiry of the presidential powers and the presidential campaign must start not later than five months before the end of the presidential term.

The head of the Central Elections Commission pointed out that the incumbent president’s term ends on January 20, 2016.