27th convocation local councils of Republic of Belarus elections were held on 23 March 2014. 1328 Local Deputy Councils were filled with 18,816 representatives. Moreover, at the same time elections of single deputy to House of Representatives of National Assembly were held in Gomel-Navabielicki 36 electoral district where government-favoured candidate was removed from elections just before 2012 parliamentary election, and the only candidate left did not receive enough support.[1]
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Turnout | 77.4% | ||||||||||||||||||
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Results of Local Councils of Deputies elections |
The elections were held under plurality vote.
The last time significant representation of independent from executive power deputies in Councils could have been observed after 2003 Municipal elections, resulted in a lot of candidates from opposition UCP, BPF, Assembly parties elected. After that, 2007, 2010, 2014 elections resulted in only single elections to Councils of opposition parties representatives.
Alexander Lukashenko signed decree on holding elections on 16 December 2013.[2] On 17 December CEC approved budget of expenditure for elections as BYR 100 billion (USD 10.5 million), having 60% of budget to be spent on electoral commissions reimbursements; deputy by-election in Gomel expenditures were set as high as BYR 1.25 billion (USD 130 thousand).[3]
Out of 18,816 deputies of 1328 local Councils most represent rural councils:
On 8 December 2013, in a week before decree on holding elections signed, amendments to electoral legislation entered into effect, and upcoming elections were held under the new rules. For example, agitation for elections boycott was prohibited; also candidates were obliged to print agitation materials at their own cost, however, limited to BYR 1.3 or 3.9 million (USD 135 or 405 respectively) depending on the council level.[1]
Deputy candidates nomination started on 12 January 2014 and went on till 10 February. Candidates registration was hold on 11–20 February; after the later the agitation campaign started and went on till 22 March. Preliminary voting was held on 18–22 March.[5]
23,799 applications were provided for 18,816 seats, among which 22,784 were approved. Thus, there were on average 1,2 candidates for seat in total in Belarus. The lowest competition was for places in rural and town councils (1.1 candidate per seat), with a bit higher rate in local city councils (1.2) and district councils (1.3). Other councils had much higher competition: regional city councils — 2.1, regional councils — 2.3. The highest competition appeared to be in Minsk, where seats in 57 electoral districts were applied by 345 candidates, among which 270 registered, resulting in 4.7 candidate per seat.[6]
80% of districts had non-alternative elections.[7]
63,8% deputy candidates were nominated by citizens via signatures collection, 32,7% were nominated by workers' associations, 3,4% were nominated by political parties. Among other parties the most nominations were made by Communist Party of Belarus (277), Liberal Democratic Party of Belarus (159), Belarusian Left Party "A Just World" (119), United Civic Party of Belarus (111), Republican Party of Labour and Justice (51), Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Assembly) (50) and BPF Party (35).[6]
47,3% candidates were acting local councils' deputies, with the share of women among candidates as large as 46,3%, citizens under 30 — 5,2%. The highest number of candidates worked in social sphere (education, culture, science, healthcare) — 28,2%, and agriculture — 22,7%. 11,8% of candidates worked in government authorities and institutions, and 9,7% in manufacturing, transport, and construction. However, among Minsk City Council candidates, 24,1% represent social sphere, 20,7% — manufacturing, transport, and construction, 16,3% — private businesses.[6]
In Gomel-Navabielicki 36 electoral district 7 candidates contested single deputy seat in House of Representatives.[8]
Under the Law "On the status of Local Council deputy" the Council deputy is responsible and reports to the voters. The Council deputy shall periodically, at least semi-annually report to the voters on his/her activities and progress with electoral programme implementation.
On 18–21 March 24,92% Belarusians voted preliminary. According to human rights advocates and independent observers, практикуется vote enforcement was imposed during municipal elections to students, state institutions employees and military servicemen.[9]
In total, 5,591,103 people, or 77,3% voters participated in elections, taking into account preliminary election.[10]
Elections took place in 18,809 districts, in 7 other districts re-elections were appointed: in 3 districts no candidate received majority vote, in 4 districts elections did not take place due to absence of candidates.[10]
4 pro-presidential parties succeeded. Agrarian Party (Belarus) (6), Belarusian Socialist Sporting Party (2), Communist Party of Belarus (206), Republican Party of Labour and Justice (34).
Agrarian Party (Belarus) 6 deputies (0.03% of total number.)
Belarusian Socialist Sporting Party 2 deputies (0,01% of total number.)
Communist Party of Belarus 206 deputies (1,1% of total number.)
Republican Party of Labour and Justice 34 deputies (0,2% of total number.)
Party | Candidates nominated | Deputies elected |
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Liberal Democratic Party | 125 | 0 |
United Civic Party of Belarus | 67 | 0 |
BPF Party | 42 | 0 |
Communist Party of Belarus | 308 | 206 |
Belarusian Left Party "A Just World" | 85 | 0 |
Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Assembly) | 44 | 0 |
Republican Party of Labour and Justice | 64 | 34 |
Belarusian Patriotic Party https://web.archive.org/web/20170522190723/http://xn--80adikeitciwjq.xn--90ais/ | 3 | 0 |
Belarusian Green Party | 0 | 0 |
Conservative Christian Party – BPF | 0 | 0 |
Party "Belarusian Social Democratic Assembly" | 0 | 0 |
Social Democratic Party of Popular Accord | 3 | 0 |
Republican Party | 0 | 0 |
Agrarian Party (Belarus) | 6 | 6 |
Belarusian Socialist Sporting Party | 3 | 2 |
Party of Freedom and Progress | 0 | 0 |
Belarusian Christian Democracy Party | 0 | 0 |
Belarusian Labourer Party | 0 | 0 |
Belarusian Social Democratic Party (People's Assembly) | 0 | 0 |
«...withdrawal of printed agitation materials of candidates; low-quality production of printed agitation materials; unjustified agitators detention, including candidates detention; obstruction of media use by opposition candidates; electoral commissions spread of inconsistent information on candidates' criminal record, including publication of scandalous reports on candidates with no criminal conviction; unjustified withdrawal of candidate registration, and unjustified rejections to register candidates»[18]