Belarus parliament elections

Opinion: People’s active participation in elections secures country’s sovereignty

MINSK, 17 October (BelTA) - People’s active participation in elections is an effective tool to protect the country’s sovereignty, Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Constitutional Legislation and State Building, Doctor of Law, Professor Andrei Klishas told the media ahead of the international conference "Institute of Elections as the Mechanism of Public Authority Legitimation" in Minsk on 17 October, BelTA has learned.

According to Andrei Klishas, “people’s active participation in elections is the only efficient way to protect sovereignty.” “When people take an active part in defining their future, external influence on the state’s political life will be minimal,” he said.

The Belarusian election legislation is democratic and meets all modern standards, the expert said. In his words, norms that ensure international observation are also efficient. “I think that all the observers will be able to see that the elections [to the National Assembly of the seventh convocation] are held in strict compliance with the Belarusian laws,” he said.

Chairperson of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Belarus Lidia Yermoshina expressed a similar opinion on the importance of people’s active participation in election campaigns during an open conference. “This is an instrument of securing stability in society, the state,” the CEC head said.

Talking to the media, she hailed the atmosphere of the current parliamentary elections as calm. According to the CEC, the registration of candidates will be over on 17 October and candidates will launch their pre-election campaigns.

The international conference Institute of Elections as the Mechanism of Public Authority Legitimation is taking place in Minsk on 17-18 October with the participation of experts in election law. The event highlights issues of constitution-making and observation of election campaigns. Experts will also study international practices in the legitimization of public authority in elections, referendums. One plenary session will be dedicated to the elections to the Belarusian parliament, the election legislation and the practice of electoral campaigns in the country.

The event is organized by the CIS Executive Committee, the CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, and the Central Election Commission of Belarus. According to the CIS headquarters in Minsk, the conference is held one month prior to the elections to the House of Representatives slated for 17 November.

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