Igor Karpenko. An archive photo
MINSK, 16 January (BelTA) – Territorial election commissions have received documents on nominating 18,996 citizens for their registration as candidates for local councils of deputies, BelTA learned from Chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Belarus Igor Karpenko.
According to Igor Karpenko, 18,996 candidates have been nominated for elections to local councils of deputies, including 871 candidates for oblast councils of deputies and the Minsk City Council of Deputies, 6,297 for district councils. As many as 773 people have been nominated as candidates for city councils of deputies in cities of oblast subordination. As many as 316 people have been nominated as candidates for city councils of deputies in cities of district subordination. 65 for town councils of deputies and 10,044 for rural councils of deputies.
The official noted that a total of 20,834 sets of documents have been filed because citizens can use several channels to nominate themselves. As many as 11,012 people have been nominated by collecting signatures, 4,897 by worker collectives, and 4,925 by political parties.
The Belarusian party Belaya Rus has nominated 3,687 candidates for the forthcoming elections, the Communist Party of Belarus – 609 candidates, the Liberal Democratic Party – 209 candidates, and the Republican Labor and Justice Party – 420 candidates.
The chairman of the Central Election Commission said that there are quite many women among the nominated candidates – 10,259. As many as 788 citizens under 31 are ready to run for their seats in various councils of deputies. The candidates also include 22 people with Russian citizenship, who permanently live in Belarus.
According to the CEC, the candidates come from various professional spheres, including science, healthcare, culture, and sport (6,381 people), agriculture (3,117 people), government agencies (2,894 people), and other spheres.
The registration of candidates will continue through 30 January. The campaign period will begin on 31 January to last through 24 February. The single voting day is scheduled for 25 February. Belarusians will have to choose members of the eighth-convocation House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus and the 29th convocation local councils of deputies.
