“For the future of independent Belarus” is the pre-election slogan of the incumbent.
Just a month ago, Alyaksandr Lukashenka reminded everyone:
Belarusians will have to pay more the next year. According to BelaPAN, communication services in the next year will rise in price by 40 percent, travel in the metropolitan transportation – by a third, and the railroad – twice. The government plans to increase price for communal services by 5-7 dollars in the equivalent and other prices regulated by the government – by an average of one-tenth.
ALYAKSANDR YARASHUK, CONGRESS OF DEMOCRATIC TRADE UNIONS:
“This decision is among the unpopular ones and, of course, it can spoil the mood of those who potentially have to vote for the government. Therefore, they waited until the next year, as well as other payment increases.”
Along with an increase in tariffs, experts predict further decline in economic indicators, which will be followed by more urgent need for foreign loans. The significant price increase in this case is simply inevitable, says economist Vasil Matskievich.
VASIL MATSKEVICH, ECONOMIST:
“This is a requirement of our external creditors, both Russia and the International Monetary Fund. To get a loan, our government has to raise prices for transportation and utility services.”
Before the election, the government held them as much as possible. However, after another “elegant” victory we should expect less enthusiastic approach in taking care of the population welfare. Majority of surveyed Minskers, however, do not doubt this.
SURVEY
“I think it is not getting better.”
“I think it will get worse. Many factors, including the fact that a lot of money will be spent on the elections, which we already known who will win at.
“It definitely has to improve. A new person will come to power, and there will be new prospects for development.”
Apart from Alyaksandr Lukashenka, currently there are 7 potential candidates fighting for the presidency. One of them – businessman Viktar Tsyareshchanka – sees three ways to solve the economic problems of the country.
VIKTAR TSYARESHCHANKA, POTENTIAL CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENCY:
“You can go for 20 more years with Moses and come to a certain drop in output and living standards. You can listen, you can work together and you can find a way to solve this. But there is another way – somebody else will become president.”
However, Moses is entirely not willling to give up his seat.
Volha Zharnasiek, belsat.eu/en/
