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OSCE observers note serious flaws in electoral regulations

 

Belarus' electoral regulations still contain serious flaws despite the recent enactment of amendments to the Electoral Code, said the first interim report released by a long-term observation mission of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) for Belarus' presidential election on December 2, BelaPAN said.

In particular, the report pointed to the "excessive role of the president" in the appointment of members of the central election commission, the lack of a transparent process of the appointment of members of territorial and precinct election commissions, the absence of a detailed vote count procedure, the absence of a "clear description of observers’ rights" and the "absence of a requirement to publish preliminary and final results of the vote promptly."

According to the report, the central election commission allowed observers representing political parties and NGOs to attend any election commission meeting and said that observers should be provided "with a real opportunity to observe the counting procedure." However, it has yet to develop guidelines for the implementation of the resolutions.

Noting that 10 candidates had been put on the ballot, the report said that the presidential hopefuls had noted "improved conditions" for the registration of nomination groups and collection of ballot-access signatures. Referring to some contenders, the mission said that the process of ballot-access signature verification "was not entirely transparent."

Describing the campaign environment, the OSCE/ODIHR mission said that it "so far has been low key and calm." It noted that an unauthorized demonstration led by presidential candidates Vital Rymashewski and Mikalay Statkevich in Minsk on November 24 and other election rallies had passed off without incidents.

State television has provided all of the presidential candidates with free airtime for live addresses to voters and their speeches have been uncensored, the mission said, adding that live televised debates between candidates would also take place.

"The broadcast media has so far shown limited interest in the candidates’ campaigns, focusing instead on the activities of the CEC [central election commission]," the report said.

The mission, which includes 54 long-term observers, started its work on November 15. As many as 400 OSCE/ODIHR short-term observers are expected to monitor the election on the main voting day on December 19.