UCP deputy head Lyudmila Hraznova: “Opposition can boycott elections”
- 25.06.2008, 10:29
The opposition won’t be allowed to cross a permitted line at the “parliamentary elections”, Lyudmila Hraznova, deputy head of the United Civil Party, believes.
“Parliamentary elections” campaign has started in Belarus. The elections for the lower chamber of the “national assembly” will take place on 28 September. Alyaksandr Lukashenka signed a relative decree yesterday. He also issued an edict, providing participating of all political parties in the election campaign, “Nezavisimaya Gazeta” newspaper writes.
According to Lidziya Yarmoshyna, head of the Central Commission on Elections and Referendums of Belarus, “it was defined that the election campaign of candidate for deputies of the House of Representatives and members of the Council of the Republic will start on 24 June,” she said. According to the Central Election Commission head he discussed issues of holding the election campaign with the head of state last Friday and was given an instruction to hold the elections in democratic and maximally open way. National and international observers should have the whole volume of information on preparation for the election campaign and processes at polling districts and election commissions of the day of elections. However, opposition representatives doubt this instruction will be fulfilled.
As Lyudmila Hraznova, deputy head of the United Civil Party, told to “Nezavisimaya Gazeta”, the authorities wouldn’t openly apply pressure upon the opposition, they even will permit some opposition figures to take seats in the parliament, but it will be made for the international community. It is important for the Belarusian authorities to demonstrate to the West there are democratic processes in the country. It explains the signing of the decree by Lukashenka, which allows the parties to nominate one representative for the Central Election Commission. But it is no enough, the opposition thinks. The situation is that the coming election can be ignored not only by the opposition, but also by other voters. It scares the authorities: it will shatter illusion of their national support.
That is why, according to Hraznova, increased tension of Lukashenka will lead to nothing. But at the same time the authorities will try not to yield to the opposition. So it can’t be allowed to cross a permitted line. Ignoring of the demand of the oppositionists to allow them to all elections commissions is an evidence of it. So, as Lyudmila Hraznova thinks, the opposition can boycott the elections.