Yarmoshyna says holding local and presidential elections at once is “good idea”

• 24.10.2008, 14:07

The Central Elections Committee Chairperson Lidziya Yarmoshyna finds it a good idea to hold local and presidential elections simultaneously, but notes complex attitude towards that in the Belarusian society.

“it would be good to hold local and presidential elections simultaneously (they are to take place in 2011), but the society’s attitude to that is complex,” Yarmoshyna said to journalists in Minsk.

Speaking about the different terms of elections, Yarmoshyna noted: “I think that the date of local elections is rather to change, and holding presidential elections is to take place in the constitutional terms, as the basic political campaign which attracts attention of the public”.

Speaking about the prospects of the proportional election system in Belarus, the CEC head underlined that “until the institute of candidates’ withdrawal won’t be cancelled, there would be a majority voting system”. She added that changes in the electoral system of Belarus demand altering the Constitution. Besides, Yarmoshyna added that holding a referendum is not needed for these changes. “It can be changed by a parliament majority,” the CEC head explained.