Aleksandr Lukashenko holds government session on parliamentary election
The next parliamentary election in Belarus will take place on 23 September 2012. The new Council of the Republic will be formed till the end of September, President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko said as the meeting on the election to the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus.
The President stressed that the parliamentary election is not only a major political event for the country but also a demanding test for the authorities, especially local ones.
" I want to caution. We should not please anyone from the outside. We will not do it. Elections are held for the Belarusian people, and only in their interests. Belarus is a sovereign state and will not tolerate any interference,” the President said. He added that “the country will continue working normally, without short deadlines and emergencies.”
“We need to have one goal in mind: We need to hold the election in strict accordance with national legislation, fairly, openly, ensuring the expression of will of the Belarusian people,” the head of state said.
Aleksandr Lukashenko believes that while preparing for the parliamentary election, cohesion, accuracy and exceptional mobility are needed. He highlighted that the organizational measures should be implemented in a calm and constructive atmosphere, with understanding between all participants in the electoral process. The head of state believes it is very important for the current election campaign. “We have learned to conduct elections as a celebration for the Belarusian people. Let us once again make this a holiday. This day should be a holiday for people,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
The President believes that close attention should be paid to the formation of election commissions. “Decisions on them should be open, involving political parties and civil organizations. Representatives of the parties regardless of their political affiliation who proved themselves during the previous election campaign should be included into the election commissions,” the head of state noted.
Aleksandr Lukashenko warned against any artificial restrictions in the registration of candidates for members of the parliament. “Everyone who has the right to be registered should be registered. All the citizens of the country should be provided with every opportunity to exercise the right to vote and be elected,” the President said.
Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized that illegal actions and political provocations aimed to destabilize the situation in the country should be immediately stopped and perpetrators should be held responsible. “Respect for the law is mandatory for all! There cannot be any MPs without it,” the President said.
“It is obvious that the election campaign should not look like street rallies. The task of the law enforcement bodies is to prevent election meetings from turning into street rallies. The law should be secured everywhere,” the President noted.
The President also focused on the work of observers at the forthcoming election.
The President believes that the most active role at the election should be played by observers from constructive political parties, trade unions, youth and veteran organizations and labor collectives. “This will allow reinforcing civil control over the conduct of the parliamentary election and make the whole process more transparent,” the head of state believes.
Aleksandr Lukashenko has set a task to provide maximum assistance to international observers and create a favourable atmosphere for them.
“I would like to emphasize that we will not bend over backwards to bring international observers to Belarus like it was before. At the same time, we should give an opportunity to see the way elections are held in Belarus to all those who want it,” the head of state said.