31 January 2008
Opposition coalition to adopt single list of parliamentary nominees on February 9

The Political Council of United Pro-democratic Forces plans to adopt a single list of nominees for this fall’s parliamentary elections on February 9, Anatol Lyabedzka, chairman of the United Civic Party, told BelaPAN.

The list will include individuals nominated by regional coalitions, he said.

“We have nominees in 63 of the country’s 110 electoral districts,” Mr. Lyabedzka said. “I hope that the number of nominees on the list will increase by February 9.”

The adoption of the list will show that the pro-democratic forces have passed the stage of difficult negotiations,” Mr. Lyabedzka said.

According to him, the list had to be finalized on Wednesday, but the deadline had to be postponed because of last-minute applications from some individuals and organizations eager to get on the list. “During the Congress of Pro-democratic Forces last May, they were among those who called for boycotting the elections or unveiling the list shortly before the vote,” the politician said.

Negotiations in Minsk and Homyel were the most successful, whereas in Mahilyow, “people don’t want to reach an agreement,” Mr. Lyabedzka said, adding that a consensus had been reached on nominees for half of the electoral districts in the other regions.

“Our list is an alternative to the government’s list of nominess,” Mr. Lyabedzka said. “The authorities will certainly try to create a semblance of alternative by fielding members of the Belarusian National Youth Union, the Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus. I guess that some opponents of the government may prefer to run independently.”