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Lukashenka considers holding next presidential election in early 2011

Alyaksandr Lukashenka on Tuesday said that he was inclined to hold Belarus’ next presidential election at the beginning of 2011, noting that there were no factors that would force him to refuse to participate.

“I have not yet decided whether I will run, but there are no factors now that would force me to refuse to participate,” the Belarusian leader said in an interview with Reuters on May 4, as quoted by BelaPAN.

He said that no final date had yet been set for the election.

Earlier this week, Lidziya Yarmoshyna, head of the central election commission, said that she did not rule out that the next presidential election may be held in the fall of 2010.

Under regulations, the date of a presidential election shall be set no later than five months before it and the election shall be held on Sunday no later than two months before the term of office of the incumbent president expires.