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Election Date: October 17, 2004

At stake: House of Representatives

Background

Belarus seceded from the Soviet Union in 1991. Three years later, independent candidate Aleksandr Lukashenko won the presidential election, boosted by his popularity after acting as chairman of an anti-corruption parliamentary committee. In 1995, Lukashenko pushed for a referendum on a new state flag and the restoration of Russian as one of the country's official languages. Throughout his tenure, the president has vehemently opposed proposals to privatize state-operated enterprises.

A new plebiscite in 1996 increased Lukashenko's clout over the legislative branch. Two years later, a profound economic crisis forced the government to impose food rationing. Belarus and Russia signed a new bilateral treaty in late 1999, where the two nations agreed to merge their tax systems and currencies. The actual implementation of the accord has been slow.

The October 2000 parliamentary elections were affected by low turnout, which eventually led to a re-vote in March 2001. In September 2001, Lukashenko earned a new term as president. International observers pointed out that the conditions were not particularly fair in either ballot.

The administration's human rights record has been severely criticized internationally. In 2002, the United States and 14 members of the European Union (EU) called for a travel ban on Lukashenko and other government ministers. The veto was lifted in April 2003, but both the U.S. and the EU remain critical of Belarus. In 2003, the Committee to Protect Journalists listed the country as one of the 10 "worst places" to work in.

In March 2003, widespread protests against the government led to the brief incarceration of several opposition figures. In early 2004, a dispute over prices led to the temporary cancellation of gas supplies from Russia to Belarus, an episode that illustrated the country's reliance on foreign energy sources.

2004 House of Representatives Election

In early June 2004, three parliamentarians—Valery Frolov, Vladimir Parfyanovich and Sergei Skrebets—went on a 19-day hunger strike to protest the possibility of fraud in the election. The three lawmakers demanded legislation that would guarantee the presence of independent monitors, as well as broader privileges for opposition organizations to oversee the ballot. Frolov, Parfyanovich and Skrebets also protested the arrest of opposition figure Mikhail Marinich, detained in April after allegedly stealing official documents.

On Jun. 23, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) issued a statement, claiming Belarus has not done nearly enough to ensure a free and fair ballot in October. OSCE representative Uta Zapf said authorities have actually contributed "to a climate of fear and self-censorship."

On Jul. 21, Lukashenko hinted at possible constitutional changes that would enable him to run for president once again in 2006. Lukashenko said that he might announce a decision on a nationwide referendum later in the year. On Jul. 22, around 4,000 people demonstrated in Minsk to demand a free and fair parliamentary election.

On Aug. 4, the Supreme Court ordered the Labour Party to cease operations because "the party's legal address did not correspond with the real location of its headquarters." Members of the Belarusian People's Front (BPF)—part of the Five Plus coalition—decried the move as "another step to cleanse the political spectrum of opponents before the parliamentary elections."

In late August, opposition parties complained that their members have not been included in the polling-station monitoring commissions. BPF leader Vintsuk Vyachorka proposed 27 candidates for the posts, but said they all were rejected. Vyachorka raised the possibility of "mass falsifications" due to the lack of opposition observers. On Sept. 2, the mission from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) began its monitoring of the electoral campaign.

On Sept. 8, Lukashenko announced a nationwide referendum in which voters will decide whether to remove an article in the constitution that limits presidents to two consecutive five-year terms. The plebiscite will take place on the same day as the legislative ballot.

Voting took place on Oct. 17. At 3:00 pm local time, the Belarusian Central Electoral Commission (BCEC) announced that 57 per cent of all voters had participated in the election and referendum, making the plebiscite valid.

State-run television network TVR violated a ban by broadcasting pro-Lukashenko advertisements. TVR also released the results of an exit poll favourable to the president before the polling stations closed. The survey in question—conducted by the previously unidentified Ecoom centre in coordination with the BCEC—said that 82.3 per cent of 8,249 respondents voted to extend Lukashenko's time in office.

Results from an independent exit poll from Gallup/Baltic Surveys were not immediately available after about 100 interviewers were detained. BPF leader Vyachorka stated that opposition monitors were banned from some polling stations, saying, "What's happening here can't be described as an election. It is not an expression of the democratic will of our people."

On Oct. 18, the OSCE released its report on the Belarusian election. Tone Tinsgaard—who led a team of short-term observers—stated that the "democratic principles were largely disregarded by the authorities. Many candidates were actively excluded from registering or were deregistered, which limited the choice of voters." Tinsgaard added that the referendum "largely overshadowed the parliamentary election campaign."

Audrey Glover—who oversaw the activities of the OSCE's long-term monitors—said, "The dominant influence of the State administration was apparent at all levels of the election process. Equally worrying were police raids on campaign offices, the detention of a candidate, campaign workers and domestic observers, as well as numerous reports of coercion on certain groups, particularly students, to vote."

Two members of the European Parliament said the EU would probably not recognize the election's results. Poland's Barbara Kudrycka and Jacek Protasiewicz observed the ballot in an unofficial capacity, and said that as many as three people could be seen entering voting booths at once.

Lukashenko rejected the criticism, declaring, "People came here with prejudices, but we conducted the elections in such a way that there can be no carping."

The Gallup/Baltic Surveys exit poll figures were released on Oct. 18. According to the survey results, 48.4 per cent of registered voters agreed to lift the two-term limit on the presidency. BCEC head Lidiya Yermoshina dismissed the study.

Official results from the parliamentary ballot were released on Oct. 18. In three districts, a run-off will take place on Oct. 31 after no candidate was able to garner 50 per cent of all cast ballots.

As expected, independents and non-partisans took most of the legislative branch's seats. Chairman Vadim Popov and deputy chairman Vladimir Konoplyov head a list of 47 returning House members. Political parties won 12 seats: eight for the Communist Party (KPB), three for the Agrarian Party (APB) and one for the Liberal-Democratic Party (LDP).

Political Players

President: Aleksandr Lukashenko
Prime minister: Sergey Sidorski

The president is elected to a five-year term by popular vote.

Legislative Branch: The Nacionalnoje Sabranie (National Assembly) has two chambers. The Palata Predstaviteley (House of Representatives) has 110 members elected to four-year terms in single-seat constituencies. The Soviet Respubliki (Council of the Republic) has 64 members, 56 members indirectly elected and eight members appointed by the president.

Results of Last Election:

President - Sept. 9, 2001

House of Representatives - Oct. 17, 2004

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