ID :
153874
Sat, 12/18/2010 - 15:09
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/153874
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Presidential election in Belarus - last day for deliberation.
.
MINSK, December 18 (Itar-Tass) -- In Belarus, Saturday is the last day
of early voting. The country seems to be steering towards another record
in the presidential campaign - over the three days of the early expression
of will, according to the CEC, almost twelve percent of the voters have
cast their ballots. At the previous presidential election in 2006 over the
very same three days 9.1 percent of the voters made their choice ahead of
time.
For the candidates it is the last day, the last chance to try to win
the support of as many voters as possible. And for the citizens there will
be the last few hours for a final decision which of the candidates to vote
for. After all, this is crucial not only to the future of each of the
contenders, but most importantly, to the future of the country.
According to Belarusian legislation the country, in contrast to many
other states, does not observe the so-called day of silence, when one day
before the primary election day any campaigning for candidates is
prohibited. A distinctive feature of this campaign was the participation
in the presidential race of an unprecedented number of contenders for the
Belarusian presidency. There were ten of them, including the incumbent
president, Alexander Lukashenko, who has been in power for the past
sixteen years. In the previous election there were four presidential
candidates.
On Saturday, the campaigning will continue till midnight. Many
candidates are scheduled to meet with voters, the hold press conferences,
and to record interviews to foreign television and radio stations. All
contenders for the highest office, except for the explicit presidential
race favorite - Alexander Lukashenko - took advantage of their right to
speak live on state radio and television. For the first time there have
been live televised debates by all candidates but for Lukashenko.
The Central Election Commission has completed all preparatory work at
all polling stations, it has printed 7.447 million ballot papers. In all,
according to the Central Election Commission, a little more than seven
million voters will be able to take part.
Apparently, the Central Election Commission expects the election to be
held in one round. CEC chief Lydia Yermoshina said back during the
registration of candidates said that elections would not require a runoff,
and she was sure she would be celebrating Christmas at home.
The voters are actively discussing the topic of candidates' incomes.
All of them, by law, have submitted declarations to the CEC for 2009. As
it has turned out, the wealthiest contender for president is Alexander
Lukashenko. His earnings last year totaled 90 million Belarussian rubles
(roughly, about 30 thousand dollars). In second place on the list there is
Alexei Mikhalevich with 75 million rubles (25 thousand dollars). Two
candidates - Andrei Sannikov and Viktor Tereshchenko - officially earned
nothing.
Almost from the beginning of the election campaign the opposition
accused the authorities the election was going to be undemocratic and
unfair, there are no equal terms for candidates, early voting will be used
as a tool for rigging. Most opposition candidates called on their
supporters to gather on December 19 after the closing of the polling
stations in Minsk's October Square to protest against rigged elections and
declare the need for holding new presidential elections without Lukashenko.
In the capital city's October Square the authorities have placed the
country's main New Year Tree and arranged a skating rink. Opposition
politicians have been calling on their supporters to come to the square
with a bag of sand or salt, "to secure one's footing on ice and to avoid
possible injury."
In turn, the leaders of the Belarusian law enforcement agencies have
been saying the situation in the country on the eve of the presidential
election is stable and completely controlled. "The overall level of
security in the country allows for safely holding the presidential
election, with respect for the law and democratic standards," said the
head of the state security committee KGB, Vadim Zaitsev.
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MINSK, December 18 (Itar-Tass) -- In Belarus, Saturday is the last day
of early voting. The country seems to be steering towards another record
in the presidential campaign - over the three days of the early expression
of will, according to the CEC, almost twelve percent of the voters have
cast their ballots. At the previous presidential election in 2006 over the
very same three days 9.1 percent of the voters made their choice ahead of
time.
For the candidates it is the last day, the last chance to try to win
the support of as many voters as possible. And for the citizens there will
be the last few hours for a final decision which of the candidates to vote
for. After all, this is crucial not only to the future of each of the
contenders, but most importantly, to the future of the country.
According to Belarusian legislation the country, in contrast to many
other states, does not observe the so-called day of silence, when one day
before the primary election day any campaigning for candidates is
prohibited. A distinctive feature of this campaign was the participation
in the presidential race of an unprecedented number of contenders for the
Belarusian presidency. There were ten of them, including the incumbent
president, Alexander Lukashenko, who has been in power for the past
sixteen years. In the previous election there were four presidential
candidates.
On Saturday, the campaigning will continue till midnight. Many
candidates are scheduled to meet with voters, the hold press conferences,
and to record interviews to foreign television and radio stations. All
contenders for the highest office, except for the explicit presidential
race favorite - Alexander Lukashenko - took advantage of their right to
speak live on state radio and television. For the first time there have
been live televised debates by all candidates but for Lukashenko.
The Central Election Commission has completed all preparatory work at
all polling stations, it has printed 7.447 million ballot papers. In all,
according to the Central Election Commission, a little more than seven
million voters will be able to take part.
Apparently, the Central Election Commission expects the election to be
held in one round. CEC chief Lydia Yermoshina said back during the
registration of candidates said that elections would not require a runoff,
and she was sure she would be celebrating Christmas at home.
The voters are actively discussing the topic of candidates' incomes.
All of them, by law, have submitted declarations to the CEC for 2009. As
it has turned out, the wealthiest contender for president is Alexander
Lukashenko. His earnings last year totaled 90 million Belarussian rubles
(roughly, about 30 thousand dollars). In second place on the list there is
Alexei Mikhalevich with 75 million rubles (25 thousand dollars). Two
candidates - Andrei Sannikov and Viktor Tereshchenko - officially earned
nothing.
Almost from the beginning of the election campaign the opposition
accused the authorities the election was going to be undemocratic and
unfair, there are no equal terms for candidates, early voting will be used
as a tool for rigging. Most opposition candidates called on their
supporters to gather on December 19 after the closing of the polling
stations in Minsk's October Square to protest against rigged elections and
declare the need for holding new presidential elections without Lukashenko.
In the capital city's October Square the authorities have placed the
country's main New Year Tree and arranged a skating rink. Opposition
politicians have been calling on their supporters to come to the square
with a bag of sand or salt, "to secure one's footing on ice and to avoid
possible injury."
In turn, the leaders of the Belarusian law enforcement agencies have
been saying the situation in the country on the eve of the presidential
election is stable and completely controlled. "The overall level of
security in the country allows for safely holding the presidential
election, with respect for the law and democratic standards," said the
head of the state security committee KGB, Vadim Zaitsev.
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