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Belarusian Party of Communists set to take active part in local and presidential elections

The Belarusian Party of Communists (BPC) intends to take an active part in the next local and presidential elections, says a resolution adopted at the opposition party's October 25 convention.

There are different views on how to participate in the elections, BPC Chairman Syarhey Kalyakin said in his speech.

Some believe that participation is pointless because the actual will of the people will be ignored, he said. However, experience shows that parties lose their supporters if they stay out of elections, Mr. Kalyakin said.

According to the resolution, the BPC's presidential candidate will be nominated at a national conference of the central, regional, and Minsk city committees of the party.

The party's organizations and chapters have until December 1 to submit their proposals regarding the candidate. Party members also have the right of self-nomination.

The BPC supports the nomination of opposition forces' common presidential candidate and is ready to be involved in this procedure on "agreed, transparent and fair" terms, Mr. Kalyakin said.

Belarus’ next presidential election is to take place in early 2011.

Moreover, the party should step up preparations for the local elections because they may be held as early as April 2010, Mr. Kalyakin said.

The party should nominate the maximum possible number of candidates, he noted. //BelaPAN