MINSK, 25 June (BelTA) – The Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus passed the bill on amending the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus at a session on 25 June, BelTA has learned.
Prime Minister of Belarus Roman Golovchenko said the bill provides for amending the Constitution to allow electing members of the parliament and members of municipal councils of deputies on the same day. The bill also provides for extending the tenure of the current members of municipal councils of deputies. According to Roman Golovchenko, these proposals were formulated as a result of a nationwide collection of initiatives in favor of amending the Constitution.
In his words, citizens submitted a significant number of proposals in favor of electing deputies of all levels on the same day. The initiative had been evaluated by experts of the Constitutional Commission, had been backed by the parliament, and had been brought in by the head of state into the parliament upon the parliament's motion. “I would like to emphasize the active stance of my fellow Belarusians, their personal involvement in the political future of the country. There is no doubt that this initiative that comes from the people will benefit Belarus,” Roman Golovchenko stressed.
The bill also provides for a number of additional advantages. A clear potential for saving budget resources is one of them.
Roman Golovchenko stressed that the single ballot day is not a Belarusian invention. The concept exists in election laws of many European countries as well as the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
The prime minister admitted that certain difficulties may be encountered when the novelties are implemented. “It is likely that election commissions and the observer community will have to work harder in the early days of introduction of the single ballot day. However, practice indicates that things are difficult only at the beginning of the way. I am convinced that this novelty has indisputable advantages, which realization will allow making the country's political system more stable and better fitting today's reality and needs of the society,” he stated.
