26 September 2006
Yelena Yeskova elected leader of Belarusian Women's Party "Nadzeya"

Yelena Yeskova was elected leader of the Belarusian Women's Party "Nadzeya" at the party's 5th convention held in Minsk on Sunday.

Ms. Yeskova replaced Valentina Matusevich who had resigned, pleading a lack of time. Nonetheless, Ms. Matusevich will hold the post of deputy chairperson.

The change of the leader will not entail a change in the party's policy, Ms. Yeskova told BelaPAN. The protection of women's interests remains its main aim, she added.

"The constitution guarantees equal rights to men and women, but things are absolutely different in real life," Ms. Yeskova said. "I believe that if the woman can keep a household, she is able to manage government affairs."

The newly elected leader also noted that the party would continue its membership in inter-party bodies, including the Political Council of United Pro-democratic Forces.

Ms. Yeskova had headed the legal department of the Belarusian Union of Automobile and Agricultural Implement Workers (BUAAIW) for many years. Afterward, she was an activist of the Belarusian Party of Labor until it was outlawed by the Supreme Court of Belarus in August 2004. //BelaPAN