MINSK, 27 April (BelTA) – The Central Commission for Elections and National Referendums believes it is necessary to reform the institution of commission members with consultative vote powers, BelTA learned from Chairwoman of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Belarus Lidia Yermoshina on 27 April.
“The institution of commission members with consultative vote rights has existed in Belarus since 2000. Initially the institution was regulated by the relevant decree of the Belarus president. Later on these norms became part of the Electoral Code. This institution existed as part of the Central Commission,” said Lidia Yermoshina. “Now we are going to keep consultative vote members part of the Central Commission only during Belarus president elections. During parliamentary elections instead of the Central Commission members with consultative vote powers will be nominated to district commissions where candidates of specific political parties have been nominated.”
“However, the Central Commission believes the institution needs to be reformed. We believe that granting such rights only to representatives of political parties infringes upon the rights of other parliamentary candidates, who are nominated via other channels,” said the head of the Belarusian election organization agency.
In her words, once the forthcoming parliamentary elections are over, they intend to review the matter in order to allow all parliamentary candidates to appoint commission members with consultative vote powers.
