MINSK, 28 October (BelTA) – 26 January 2025 is the most optimal time for the election campaign, Chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC) Igor Karpenko said in an interview with Belarus 1 TV channel, BelTA has learned.
“The year 2025 completes the five-year period. There is a need to analyze the program of social and economic development of our country, how it was implemented, and to determine the development strategy for the next five-year period, the main directions of domestic and foreign policy. The newly elected president should be involved in this process at an early stage of the development of such an important strategic document, and not after the election held in the summer, when in fact even the budget of the next year is already made up, not to mention five-year plans and programs,” Igor Karpenko said. “The second important point in my opinion is that we must understand that the amendments and additions to the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus, which were introduced at the national referendum in 2022, envisaged the renewal of all branches of power, including the presidential power, according to the innovations defined in the Constitution, in our legislation.”
In total, about 90 legislative acts were amended, including the Electoral Code. Two new laws have been adopted. They are “On the Fundamentals of Civil Society” and “On the Belarusian People's Congress,” the CEC chairman recalled. “Therefore, it would be reasonable to assume that following the single voting day the presidential election campaign will complete the process of political modernization,” he said. “And, probably, this is the most optimal time for the election campaign, because, as a rule, people are not on vacation, are not in the countryside, there is no workload in terms of implementation of tasks that face local authorities, economic entities. For example, this is neither the sowing nor harvesting season.”
The CEC head was asked whether the presidential candidates would have enough time to prepare for the campaign. “Any candidate for MP or president, if they intend to participate in the elections, cannot solve this issue within a few days after the announcement of the election date. Such work should start at least five years prior,” Igor Karpenko added.
“The year 2025 completes the five-year period. There is a need to analyze the program of social and economic development of our country, how it was implemented, and to determine the development strategy for the next five-year period, the main directions of domestic and foreign policy. The newly elected president should be involved in this process at an early stage of the development of such an important strategic document, and not after the election held in the summer, when in fact even the budget of the next year is already made up, not to mention five-year plans and programs,” Igor Karpenko said. “The second important point in my opinion is that we must understand that the amendments and additions to the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus, which were introduced at the national referendum in 2022, envisaged the renewal of all branches of power, including the presidential power, according to the innovations defined in the Constitution, in our legislation.”
In total, about 90 legislative acts were amended, including the Electoral Code. Two new laws have been adopted. They are “On the Fundamentals of Civil Society” and “On the Belarusian People's Congress,” the CEC chairman recalled. “Therefore, it would be reasonable to assume that following the single voting day the presidential election campaign will complete the process of political modernization,” he said. “And, probably, this is the most optimal time for the election campaign, because, as a rule, people are not on vacation, are not in the countryside, there is no workload in terms of implementation of tasks that face local authorities, economic entities. For example, this is neither the sowing nor harvesting season.”
The CEC head was asked whether the presidential candidates would have enough time to prepare for the campaign. “Any candidate for MP or president, if they intend to participate in the elections, cannot solve this issue within a few days after the announcement of the election date. Such work should start at least five years prior,” Igor Karpenko added.
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