English

Belarusian Popular Front calls for single opposition candidate in 2015 presidential election

 

The Belarusian Popular Front (BPF)’s Council, in a declaration adopted at an October 13 meeting, called for a single opposition candidate in the 2015 presidential election.

Speaking at the meeting, BPF Chairman Alyaksey Yanukevich said that the government was increasing pressure on its political opponents, while growing divisions in the opposition camp were discouraging the international community from supporting it. According to him, the international community is increasingly leaning toward an idea that the political situation in Belarus cannot be changed.

“It’s very important now that the international community’s attention remains attracted to Belarus, that the function of dealing with our country is not left to Moscow alone,” Mr. Yanukevich warned.

The politician called on the opposition camp to agree on a way to select a single candidate in the next presidential election. While the United Civic Party proposes holding ‘primaries’ to this end, the BPF believes that such a candidate must be elected at a congress of pro-democratic forces, he said.

Mr. Yanukevich warned that the BPF would field its own candidate in the election irrespective of whether or not a single opposition candidate is put forward. “Now we have a fairly constructive stance on selecting a single candidate. But we also need our own candidate in order not to remain outside the political process in the event of the lack of unity in the opposition,” he said. // BelaPAN