Belarus gears up for staged election as opposition silenced
Belarusian officials are striving to ensure everything is prepared for the "presidential election" on 26 January. Polish experts describe it as "Lukashenko's election ritual." Four of the leader’s opponents have just been registered.
Politician Aleh Haidukevich "supports Lukashenko" but also advocates for reforms to "enhance citizens' quality of life while maintaining political stability." Communist Siarhei Syrankou aims to "promote socialist values, focusing on social justice, free education, and healthcare." Meanwhile, Andrey Dmitriyeu wants to increase the minimum wage, improve working conditions, and enhance access to social services.
Hanna Kanapatskaya, an entrepreneur, has adopted the most assertive approach, emphasising "the development of small and medium-sized enterprises and increasing transparency in public administration." She declares that she supports "strengthening civil rights and integrating with Western markets." Her campaign is reportedly directed mainly towards entrepreneurs and the younger electorate.
These so-called opponents of Aliaksandr Lukashenko were registered on 23 December by the national electoral commission to participate in the presidential elections. "Candidates still have time to adjust some of their campaign strategies, campaign among the population, meet voters, and review their programmes," said Central Election Commission Chairman Igor Karpenko to the media. He assured that preparations are at a high level, and none of the candidates are filing protests.
Lukashenko has met the "competitors." Soon the "election ritual"
A Belarusian official confirmed that the campaign would be surprisingly short. On 1 January, candidates can start presenting their programmes and participate in debates, with voting to be held on 26 January. The results will be announced on 5 February. There is no doubt that Lukashenko will retain power.
- We don’t call this an election. No standards are met. Thousands of people are imprisoned for political reasons. There is no real opposition to Lukashenko’s regime. His services are focused on combating Belarusian democratic circles operating in Poland - said Pavel Latushka, one of the leaders of the Belarusian opposition and Deputy Prime Minister in Belarus’s United Transitional Cabinet.
Experts from the Central Europe Institute in Lublin, Poland are convinced that the information about the Belarusian elections is merely a façade for genuine elections. "In an atmosphere of fear, mass repression and forced mobilisation of society in Belarus, another ceremonial electoral ritual and a propagandistic plebiscite will occur, culminating in the reappointment of the current leader as president. This definitively confirms the absence of alternatives within Belarus’s current political system," comment CEI analysts in a report on the upcoming elections.
"Independent media in Belarus have been practically eliminated, all opposition political parties dissolved, the majority of non-governmental organisations forcibly closed, and about 1,500 political prisoners arrested and imprisoned. Conducting democratic, competitive, and fair presidential elections is not possible," it continues.
Experts note that the elections were scheduled earlier than initially anticipated, resulting in the current president's term being shortened by several months. Additionally, in connection with the upcoming elections, there have been increased preventive actions from the authorities, including arrests of individuals suspected of planning protests.
