Presidential election 2015 in Belarus

MINSK, 12 August (BelTA) – For the past 20 years Belarus’ electoral system has evolved from amateurish into professional, Chairperson of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Belarus Lidia Yermoshina told journalists on 12 August, BelTA has learned.

She noted that the first president election in Belarus resembled a mass amateur action in terms of the organization. “Of course, it was very enthusiastic, with a hope for the future and a desire to completely discard the old system. Thankfully, today there are no such public sentiments. The society is proud of what it has achieved over these 20 years and wants to preserve and multiply it. All this determines the mood of this presidential election. The election itself is organized professionally,” Lidia Yermoshina pointed out.

“Back in 1994 we had to do everything literally on the lap. Nobody knew how to organize televised debates and election speeches, how to properly verify the signatures. Both election campaign organizers and journalists had to learn how to do this,” Lidia Yermoshina explained.

“Yes, we have come a long way, although we have lost that romantic touch that prevailed in the society. However, any kind of societal maturity, most probably, entails a higher degree of stability which means less amusement and more professionalism,” she noted.