"LYMEC: local elections in Belarus failed" (Lymec Office)

2003-03-07

Posted by: Lymec Office on 2003-03-07 11:57:59

As in the past, fundamental democratic principles are not being observed in Belarus. Local elections on 2nd of March 2003 were neither free nor for fair

As in the past, fundamental democratic principles are not being observed in Belarus. Local elections on 2nd of March 2003 were neither free nor for fair

Says Ellen Trane Norby, president of LYMEC and continues:

Local elections in Belarus were not transparent at each stage: opposition candidates were discriminated, denied registration as candidates or dropped from the race for questionable reasons; members of election commissions were selected on the basis of their loyalty to the government; observers had no real opportunity to monitor the counting of votes. Moreover, Central Election Commission of Belarus denied international observers access to the local elections. All this led to questionable election results, mostly favorable to Lukashenko-friendly incumbents.

The LYMEC Vice-president Milda Kuliesiute who was in Belarus observing the elections on the 2nd of March adds:

Local elections are a fundamental element of a democratic system. Creating democratic, effective and transparent local politics is one of the challenges of transformation. To lend the political system legitimacy, to exercise participation and control, to articulate political interests and to recruit new persons for the political process, elections must fulfil democratic standards. The local elections on 2 March 2003 in Belarus failed to meet this test

LYMEC urges that a maximum pressure is put on Lukashenkos regime, so that democracy and civil liberties can once again be reinstalled in Belarus.


For further information please contact:
Ellen Trane NORBY, LYMEC President: + 45 22 28 91 40 or Milda KULIESIUTE, LYMEC Vice-President: +370 685 40133

Editors note: LYMEC - European Liberal Youth is the youth of ELDR the European Liberal Democratic Party and Group in the EP. LYMEC consists of 67 liberal youth and student organisations from all over Europe and has several other liberal organisations on its interested list.