Opinions & Interviews

VITEBSK, 6 December (BelTA) - During the current election campaign we may expect to see a large number of unaffiliated candidates, ChairChairperson of the Belarusian Central Election Commission Lidia Yermoshina told the media ahead of the seminar with heads and organizers of the local election campaign in Vitebsk, BelTA has learned.

Commenting on the inquiries sent to the Central Election Commission, Lidia Yermoshina noted that they mostly relate to the procedure of nomination of candidates. People clarify the issues related to the procedure of declaring assets, using funds of the election fund, campaigning, etc. “All this shows that we have a lot of unaffiliated candidates during this campaign. Because, as a rule, those who are nominated by the political parties are more aware of such issues. So we may expect to see new personalities, new politicians,” she noted.

A series of national seminars were launched in Minsk on 6 December to discuss the performance of territorial commissions, nomination of candidates, and the registration of initiative groups. Seminars will be held in all the regions of the country.

As for the electoral campaign, documents for the registration of initiative groups should be submitted before 14 December, inclusively. Nomination of candidates to deputies will be running from 10 December to 8 January. A citizen of Belarus, over 18 years old, with no criminal record and living within the corresponding administrative unit can run for the seat in the local council of deputies. Russian citizens who permanently live in Belarus also have the right to take part in the elections.

Elections to the local councils of deputies in Belarus are scheduled for 18 February 2018.