Lukashenko Seen Winner in Belarus Poll
October 16, 2000 - 0:0
MINSK The isolated ex-Soviet Republic of Belarus voted for a rubber-stamp parliament Sunday as authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko said a crushing defeat of his opposition would give him a free run at re-election next year, AFP reported.
State officials said 25.45 percent of registered voters had cast their ballots by 12:00 pm (0800 GMT), the country's 7.3 million voters appearing ready to snub an opposition call to boycott elections to a parliament already packed with Lukashenko supporters.
Lukashenko flatly dismissed charges of vote rigging, accusing Western powers of funding his opponents and promising to win next summer's presidential elections since his political opponents had no will to vote.
"We are conducting these elections for the people of Belarus and not for the West. The West has their point of view and we respect that," said Lukashenko after casting his ballot.
He then added: "The opposition will not win the presidential elections. The person who will win is the one who loves his country and his people." Indeed some in the opposition voiced hope that while these parliamentary elections are clearly lost, the country was brimming with discontent and could soon see events similar to this month's popular uprising in Yugoslavia.
"I think next year it is fully possible that the situation will develop along similar lines" said former Belarus prime minister Mikhail Chigi, who resigned in protest of Lukashenko's 1996 referendum that extended both his term and presidential powers.
Yet a split in the anti-Lukashenko's forces was clearly visible on the streets of Minsk during Sunday's voting.
"It's nonsense, this (election) boycott," said voter Vladimir Labits.
"There are 2,000 people (protesting) in the street, but what does that mean when the city's population is two million? Who gives a damn about these 2,000," he asked.
Lukashenko opponents have dismissed the vote as a sham, saying restricted access to the media, a biased election law, political prosecutions of opposition leaders and Parliament's toothless status make the ballot pointless.
Central elections commission chief Lidya Yermoshina has admitted the poll will not be perfect, but insisted it would meet international standards.
State officials said 25.45 percent of registered voters had cast their ballots by 12:00 pm (0800 GMT), the country's 7.3 million voters appearing ready to snub an opposition call to boycott elections to a parliament already packed with Lukashenko supporters.
Lukashenko flatly dismissed charges of vote rigging, accusing Western powers of funding his opponents and promising to win next summer's presidential elections since his political opponents had no will to vote.
"We are conducting these elections for the people of Belarus and not for the West. The West has their point of view and we respect that," said Lukashenko after casting his ballot.
He then added: "The opposition will not win the presidential elections. The person who will win is the one who loves his country and his people." Indeed some in the opposition voiced hope that while these parliamentary elections are clearly lost, the country was brimming with discontent and could soon see events similar to this month's popular uprising in Yugoslavia.
"I think next year it is fully possible that the situation will develop along similar lines" said former Belarus prime minister Mikhail Chigi, who resigned in protest of Lukashenko's 1996 referendum that extended both his term and presidential powers.
Yet a split in the anti-Lukashenko's forces was clearly visible on the streets of Minsk during Sunday's voting.
"It's nonsense, this (election) boycott," said voter Vladimir Labits.
"There are 2,000 people (protesting) in the street, but what does that mean when the city's population is two million? Who gives a damn about these 2,000," he asked.
Lukashenko opponents have dismissed the vote as a sham, saying restricted access to the media, a biased election law, political prosecutions of opposition leaders and Parliament's toothless status make the ballot pointless.
Central elections commission chief Lidya Yermoshina has admitted the poll will not be perfect, but insisted it would meet international standards.