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Election official expects Minsk to see biggest competition for soviet seats

Lidziya Yarmoshyna, head of the central election commission, predicted that Minsk would see the biggest competition for soviet seats in next year's local elections.

Speaking in an interview broadcast by the STV television channel on December 22, Ms. Yarmoshyna explained that there were many active people and an active business community in Minsk. She added that the Mahilyow region was the country's most active region in terms of politics. "This is probably due to traditions established by the president of Belarus," she said.

Ms. Yarmoshyna warned that political parties in Belarus had few local chapters and would have little participation in the elections. Parties are most likely to actively take part in the elections in the regional capitals and Minsk, "where they have registered chapters," said the official. //BelaPAN