Belarus may move presidential or parliamentary elections to 2019

One of the 2020 electoral campaigns (presidential or parliamentary elections) may be scheduled to an earlier date, Central Election Commission chairwoman Lidzia Yarmoshyna said in an interview with BELTA.

In 2020, presidential and parliamentary elections were initially scheduled to take place almost simultaneously. Under the laws, presidential elections should take place not later than 30 August. Elections to the House of Representatives should take place not later than 10 September.

In the view of Yarmoshyna, the two campaigns cannot be combined. "Most likely, when time comes, a relevant political decision will be taken. One of the electoral campaigns will be rescheduled earlier. Elections can be organized earlier but not later thab the deadline stipulated by the law," she said. 

Yarmoshyna adds that both the presidential and parlimentary elections can be organized in the same year but it will be difficult. Therefore, it is more likely that one of the campaigns will be moved to the fall of 2019 depending on a variety of factors from the international situation to economic conditions in the country. 

In a comment for Euroradio, CEC chairwoman said.

“Firstly, it is not a common practice in this country. Secondly, some time back the president expressed his views on this: elections of the head of state could not be combined with any other electoral campaigns. Moreoever, the circle of politicians is quite narrow. There are not so many of them. All of them take part in the elections - parliamentary or presidential - in this way or another as candidates or head of campaign headquarters, trustees and activists. Combining the two campaigns will make their life more difficult and may radicalize the electoral campaign. Candidates will unite under the a potential presidential candidate - not around political platforms to meet the interests of voters."