MINSK, 22 January (BelTA) – The number of registered candidates for deputies to the local councils is over 22,200 in Belarus, Chairperson of Belarus' Central Election Commission Lidia Yermoshina said at an online press conference at BelTA's press center.
She recalled that 22,712 people were nominated candidates for deputies. “At the moment there are 22,278 of them: 123 withdrew and 311 (1.37%) were denied registration. This is how the things are at the moment. Of course, they will change: some will continue running, someone will withdraw,” Lidia Yermoshina noted.
Lidia Yermoshina noted that in most rural districts the elections will run uncontested. “As to the councils of the highest level – regional ones, I would like to say that in Brest Oblast there are 7 uncontested constituencies (or 12.3%), 22 in Vitebsk Oblast (36.7%), 3 in Gomel Oblast (5%), 40 Grodno (66.7%). In Minsk Oblast there are three uncontested constituencies, which makes up 5%. There are no uncontested constituencies in Mogilev. Moreover, there are the constituencies with high competition. The average competition is a bit less than three candidates per seat,” she said.
In Minsk there are no uncontested constituencies. On average, more than four people are vying for one seat. “If we speak about Minsk districts, we see the highest competition (eight candidates per seat) in Akademichesky constituency No. 48 of Pervomaisky District and Kalvariysky constituency No. 38 of Frunzensky District. Seven candidates per seat are running in Starovilensky constituency No. 41 of Tsentralny District. Six people are competing for the MP mandate in Plekhanovsky, Zheleznodorozhny and Sukharevsky constituencies,” Lidia Yermoshina noted.
