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Presidential elections set for December 19

The House of Representatives voted unanimously at an extraordinary session on Tuesday to call Belarus' presidential elections for December 19, BelaPAN reports.

The issue was added to the agenda of the lower chamber by its Council minutes before the session.

Under the constitution’s Article 56, a presidential election shall be called by the House of Representatives. The election date shall be set no later than five months and the election shall be conducted no later than two months before the end of the incumbent president's term.

Alyaksandr Lukashenka's term expires on April 6, 2011.

Speaking to reporters after the date was announced, Lidziya Yarmoshyna, chair of the central election commission, said that the commission would hold its first meeting on September 15. "All major documents without which it is impossible to work will be adopted at the meeting, including the campaign's budget and schedule and the procedure of submitting documents for the registration of nomination groups," she said.

According to the official, September 24 is the deadline for potential presidential candidates to apply for the registration of their nomination groups. "The collection of ballot-access signatures will begin on September 30," she said.

Ms. Yarmoshyna noted that international observers would be invited to monitor the elections. The Belarusian foreign ministry will send invitations to the international organizations that "traditionally carry out vote observation" within a week, she said.

Ms. Yarmoshyna announced that if needed, the second round of the elections could be held one week after the first round, on December 26.

Speaking about the election date, the official described it as a "predictable surprise." "December is a good month for holding elections," she said, adding that the authorities also considered calling the vote for December 12 or February 6.

This year's national budget provides for the allocation of 37 billion rubels for the elections, Ms. Yarmoshyna said.