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United Civic Party’s candidates to decide for themselves whether to withdraw from local elections

The United Civic Party (UCP) has decided to let its candidates decide themselves whether to stay in the race for seats in local soviets until the end or pull out shortly before the early voting period, UCP Deputy Chairman Lew Marholin told reporters in Minsk on Wednesday.

The party’s candidates quit the race at the last moment in the September 2012 House of Representatives elections.

The UCP has decided not to order its candidates to withdraw from the elections, considering that they will be seen as valid irrespective of the voter turnout, Mr. Marholin said. Some representatives of the UCP, especially young people, want to make their names known in their electoral districts and stay on the ballot until the end, he said.

UCP Deputy Chairman Vasil Palyakow said that the party was planning to run 150 candidates in March’s local elections. Nomination groups will work especially hard in 38 “priority” electoral districts, he said.

Given that none of its 36 nominees were included in district election commissions, the party has no intention of nominating many people for membership in precinct election commissions. Nevertheless, 126 representatives of the UCP are ready to work on such commissions, Mr. Lyabedzka said. //BelaPAN