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Belarusian Election Chief Dismisses Opposition Complaints About Representation

Posted on: Tuesday, 3 January 2006, 06:00 CST

The head of the Belarusian Central Electoral Commission, Lidziya Yarmoshyna, has dismissed opposition complaints about difficulties obtaining representation on territorial electoral commissions. Speaking in an interview with a government-controlled newspaper, Yarmoshyna said that only experienced individuals who enjoy respect in society should be appointed members of commissions. She also described calls by some opposition politicians for a boycott of the 2006 presidential election as "anti-state" remarks. The following is an excerpt from Yarmoshyna's interview headlined "The number of romantics has fallen", published in the Belarusian newspaper Zvyazda on 28 December; subheadings have been inserted editorially:

[Syarhey Kuznyatsow] It seems that the Central Electoral Commission [CEC] was originally planning to receive much more applications for the registration of nomination groups because sets of documents were prepared for more than 20 nomination groups. However, the number of contenders seeking their registration as presidential candidates turned out to be eight. What do you think is the reason for this?

[Yarmoshyna] Yes, we prepared sets of documents for collecting voters' signatures taking into account 23 possible contenders. Each set is for 100,000 signatures by voters. As the number of hopefuls is less than this amount, we will give documents for collecting 288,000 signatures to their teams. It will be easier for nomination groups to carry out their work.

What is the fewer number of contenders to do with? I think citizens have been demonstrating a more serious attitude towards elections. Many have understood that in order to participate in the election, one needs to have a skilled team capable of collecting voters' signatures (and it is very difficult to collect them). Before 2001 and even in 2001, a certain romantic impracticability existed and citizens thought that anybody can become a presidential candidate (and even president). Now the number of romantics has evidently decreased. People's attitude towards this process has become more serious. Therefore, the number of nomination groups has decreased but they have become more professional.

Yet, people who are far from the election and have absolutely no idea about electoral legislation have attempted to participate in the ongoing election campaign. For example, an individual came to the CEC headquarters at 2200 [2000 gmt] on 23 December (the last day for submitting applications for registration of nomination groups) and brought the list of his group, which was made up of five people. Another example. We have received a statement from a "hopeful" seeking his registration as a presidential candidate in which he demands that the CEC form a nomination group for him and register it. He demands that we should do all the work for him.

Politicians should prepare for elections in advance

[Kuznyatsow] Many analysts and politicians predicted that the presidential election will be held in the summer of 2006. Would the number of presidential contenders increase if this were the case?

[Yarmoshyna] Probably, the number of contenders would increase a little but mainly due to those candidates who cannot be regarded as serious ones. I mean those individuals who have no real support groups that are capable of collecting the required amount of signatures.

Those planning their participation in the election were getting ready for this in advance. For example, when we received a statement by [opposition figure in pre-trial detention Syarhey] Skrabets, we asked the leadership of the remand centre, where he is currently staying, to verify the authenticity of his signature on his statement that he is going to seek nomination as a presidential candidate. It was found out that Skrabets had prepared the statement in advance, prior to his detention in custody. This proves that those individuals seeking nomination as presidential candidates always prepare for the election in advance.

Opposition failed to prepare properly for nomination campaign

[Kuznyatsow] The process of nominating representatives of political parties, NGOs, labour collectives and citizens to territorial electoral commissions by collecting signatures came to an end on 25 December. How did the nomination process take place?

[Yarmoshyna] Some 6 per cent of the nominated individuals represent political parties, 14.8 per cent were nominated by NGOs, 24.2 per cent by works collectives, and 50 per cent were nominated by voters.

I can say that our political parties have not prepared properly for the nomination process. They do not even study electoral legislation. For example, on Sunday, the last day for nominating people to territorial electoral commissions, CEC officials were receiving phone calls (on their private telephone numbers) from representatives of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Hramada) who said that none of the Minsk districts accepted documents for nominating their representatives to territorial commissions in the city. However, the documents should be submitted not to district administrations of Minsk but to the Minsk City Executive Committee! And this is mentioned in the Electoral Code\[newspaper ellipsis]

Opposition complaints over representation in electoral commissions dismissed

[Kuznyatsow] Opposition representatives say they experience difficulties when they attempt to become members of territorial electoral commissions. They say that the situation in 2001, when only few representatives of opposition political parties were granted membership, is being repeated\[newspaper ellipsis]

[Yarmoshyna] Legislation does not contain requirements on the composition of territorial or district commissions how many representatives of each political or social group should be granted membership. An electoral commission is a working body and it should be formed on the same principles as any works collective is formed. An electoral commission should be operational. Therefore, its members should include people who have a certain legal background and experience of organizing elections.

First of all, experience of organizing and holding elections and the respect of people in society are reasons for allowing them to become members of electoral commissions. And representatives of opposition political parties that are nominated to electoral commissions are very often unemployed people. Certainly, one cannot say that such citizens enjoy any high moral standing in a town, a district or a village. Besides, often they do not have the necessary experience of organizing and holding elections because they have not worked in electoral commissions previously.

Only the best representatives, the most experienced ones are included in electoral commissions. Party affiliation is the most insignificant factor that is taken into account during the selection process. By the way, this is in compliance with the recommendations issued by the OSCE ODIHR [Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights] which say that electoral bodies should include politically neutral citizens who are highly respected in society.

[Passage omitted: Yarmoshyna says nomination groups cannot campaign for their candidates when collecting signatures.]

Criticism of opposition over calls for election boycott

[Kuznyatsow] Some opposition politicians have called for a boycott of the presidential election. How would you comment on such statements?

[Yarmoshyna] These are anti-state remarks. The election is the most important state event. Huge taxpayers' funds have been allocated for the poll. Calls for boycotting the election mean calling for disruption of the campaign and for wasting funds\[newspaper ellipsis]

And such calls are voiced by individuals who are unemployed and do not pay taxes to the state. This is why their attitude towards state funds is so indifferent. Nevertheless, these individuals have the right to make such statements. This simply demonstrates certain deformations in their moral make-up.

[Passage omitted to end: Yarmoshyna repeats that invitations to international observers will be sent in January; she says that the date of the 2006 presidential election has nothing to do with the parliamentary election in Ukraine, which will be conducted at about the same time.]

Source: BBC Monitoring Former Soviet Union

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