ELECTIONS TO BE LESS COSTLY, BUT NOT MORE DEMOCRATIC

2006-09-12

By Alyaksandr KLASKOWSKI

Authorities have proposed legislation to make elections cheaper. The changes, however, will not make elections more democratic — this is something that the opposition has sought for years.

The changes to the Electoral Code that have been submitted to the National Assembly for consideration would abolish the second (runoff) round in elections for local soviets.

According to Mikalai Lazavik, secretary of the central election commission, the proposed changes were prompted by previous local elections, which showed that people's interest in local elections is much weaker than in presidential or parliamentary elections, whereas the required voter turnout is the same, 50 percent. Turnouts in the second rounds of local elections were still lower than in the first round.

The abolition of the second round would help save public funds and facilitate organizational work, Lazavik said on September 1.

"In practice, the winner of the first round becomes the winner in the second round as well," he noted. "A candidate who gains more votes in the first round wins the election."

The authorities plan to limit a ban on the publication of opinion polls to five days prior to elections instead of 10 days. On the surface, this seems to be a step toward liberalization. But commentators note that the National Assembly is expected this fall to pass changes to a law governing opinion polls that would require pollsters to obtain accreditation from authorities. This is likely to be a major obstacle for independent pollsters; therefore the public will be able to learn the results of surveys conducted by government-controlled organizations only.

The bill would remove a clause from the Presidency Law stipulating a two-term limit for presidents. The constitutional two-term limit was abolished through the 2004 referendum, but the law has not yet been amended.

Several changes are definitely intended to limit opportunities of the opposition. Only members of political parties and non-governmental organizations would be allowed to observe elections, not any persons authorized by parties and NGOs as the current law provides.

Aspirants and candidates would be disqualified for using illegal financial assistance and would need permission from executive authorities for all outdoor meetings with voters.

The authorities obviously learned a lesson from the March 2006 presidential campaign of Alyaksandr Milinkevich, who held mass rallies without asking authorities for permission. Their concern about illegal financial assistance is also linked to the presidential election.

Lidziya Yarmoshyna, chairwoman of the central election commission, in an interview with the Zvyazda accused Milinkevich of using leaflets printed in Russia during his 2006 campaign. "The Electoral Code prohibits candidates from using funds of foreign organizations and countries for their campaign. But candidates defied the ban and got away unpunished. Now we introduce punishment at the nomination stage. If an aspirant uses foreign financial assistance, he or she would be denied registration for the race," she said.

Yarmoshyna hopes that the changes will pass the National Assembly before the forthcoming local elections, which she suggests holding on January 14, 2007. The Belarusian leader is expected to set the election date no later than October 10.

Earlier, authorities repeatedly rejected proposals by the opposition to democratize the Electoral Code citing a shortage of time before the next election. Elections come one after another, and there is never enough time to consider new electoral legislation, unless the authorities sponsor it.

"On the surface, amendments seem to be technical, but some of the changes will limit opportunities of the opposition," Syarhey Alfer of the United Civic Party told.

He noted, however, that second round abolition could make it easier for opposition candidates to obtain registration with election commissions. Since authorities-supported candidates will no longer need to gain more than 50 percent of the vote, they will be less selective in their approach to rivals. Although their chances will be as slim as before, the opposition will receive additional opportunities to communicate with voters.

Mikhail Pliska, a lawyer, stressed that the amendments are not of any significance under conditions where authorities rig every vote. "However, the Electoral Code alteration may create a precedent that the opposition can use in the future."