BORISOV, 4 April (BelTA) – The nomination of Minsk Oblast candidates to the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus has been completed in line with the law. Chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Belarus Igor Karpenko made the statement during the session of members of Minsk Oblast municipal councils of deputies held on 4 April to elect members of the eighth-convocation Council of the Republic, BelTA has learned.
In his words, the single voting day held in Belarus on 25 February 2024 concluded the first stage of the electoral cycle, which began in November 2023 to form state bodies of the Republic of Belarus. “After electing members of various councils of deputies representative, executive, and administrative bodies, civil society subjects are taking part in the elections of members of the eighth-convocation Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus and delegates of the Belarusian People’s Congress. In line with Article 84 of the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus the head of state signed decree No.368 on 20 November 2023 to schedule elections of members of the eighth-convocation Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus for 4 April 2024. Sessions of basic municipal councils of deputies of every oblast and the Minsk City Council of Deputies are taking place all over the country today to elect members of the Council of the Republic,” the CEC head said.
Igor Karpenko said: “In accordance with requirements of the Electoral Code and in compliance with the schedule of organizational events to prepare and conduct elections of members of the Council of the Republic joint sessions of presidiums of basic municipal councils of deputies, the Minsk City Council of Deputies, and the relevant executive committees took place on 12-21 March. As a result, eight candidates to the Council of the Republic were nominated by every oblast and by the city of Minsk each. In accordance with Article 101 of the Electoral Code of the Republic of Belarus the Central Election Commission received resolutions passed by the joint sessions of these bodies to nominate candidates to the Council of the Republic. The documents the legislation requires were attached. The Central Election Commission checked the compliance of the nomination of the candidates to the Council of the Republic with the legislation. The relevant conclusions were made.”
The Central Election Commission’s conclusions on the legality of the nomination of candidates to the Council of the Republic and notifications about the registration of the candidates are supposed to be presented during sessions of municipal councils of deputies, the official noted.
“In line with the Central Election Commission’s conclusion on the validity of the nomination of Minsk Oblast candidates to the eighth-convocation Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus the Central Election Commission has ascertained that the nomination of the Minsk Oblast candidates to the Council of the Republic had been done in compliance with Article 92 of the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus, Article 98 and Article 100 of the Electoral Code of the Republic of Belarus. Joint sessions of presidiums of basic municipal councils of deputies and the relevant executive committees of Minsk Oblast to nominate the candidates to the Council of the Republic had taken place in accordance with the procedure the election legislation stipulates. The Central Election Commission received the documents the registration of candidates to the Council of the Republic requires within the established time limit,” Igor Karpenko added.
The CEC head clarified that Article 98 of the Electoral Code stipulates that citizens of the Republic of Belarus, who are at least 30 years old and have lived in the relevant oblast for at least five years, can be candidates to the Council of the Republic. “All the nominated candidates to Minsk Oblast members of the Council of the Republic meet the specified requirements,” Igor Karpenko said.
Eight members of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus will be elected by Minsk Oblast today. As many as 400 members of district councils of deputies and the Zhodino City Council of Deputies are taking part in the session.
