MINSK, 14 May (BelTA) - The candidates running for the Belarus president post will be announced in July, Chairperson of the Belarusian Central Election Commission Lidia Yermoshina said in an interview with the First National Channel of Belarusian Radio, BelTA has learned.
Members of the initiative groups for nominating presidential candidates will collect signatures from 21 May to 19 June inclusively. Signature sheets shall be verified during 20 days. The Central Election Commission will hold a meeting between 5 July and 14 July and then announce the names of the presidential candidates. They will all get free airtime on television and radio, newspapers. The CEC will also issue information leaflets with brief bios of each of the candidates,” said Lidia Yermoshina.
When asked about the invitation of international observers, the CEC head said that no decision has yet been taken. “We have no decision yet, given the difficult situation. We will return to it a little later, maybe in June,” Lidia Yermoshina informed.
The House of Representatives has scheduled the presidential election for 9 August. Early voting shall be held on 4-8 August. The Central Election Commission shall sum up results of the election by 19 August. If the run-off is needed, it will take place within two weeks of the first round, that is on 23 August.
