Ales Silich, a Belsat TV journalist in Belgium, has asked Maja Kocijancic, European External Action Service Spokesperson, about the parliamentary election that took place in Belarus on September 11.
What is the point of the EU statement on the 2016 parliamentary election in Belarus?
The European Union was keeping a very close eye on everything that concerned the organization of the parliamentary election in Belarus. The OSCE observation team was monitoring the elections, and then we got acquainted with their report and all previous statements and conclusions. The EU Statement says that there were visible efforts made by the Belarusian authorities in the field of major democratic values, but, at the same time, it highlights a large number of system errors of the Belarusian political life, i.e. very narrow statutory framework in which citizens have to live, and which often limits their rights and freedoms. I would like to mention the very important fact that the Belarusian authorities have failed to meet many of the OSCE recommendations, which makes us urge the Belarusian authorities to urgently reform the electoral system in accordance with these recommendations.
What kind of reaction do you expect as a respose to the statement?
Our message is very clear and understandable: the Belarusian authorities need to make further efforts in the field of electoral reforms, the reform of the electoral legislation, in moving forward to the greater respect for the principles of democracy, rule of law and human rights. The European Union is supporting and will support Belarus, its democratic and stable future. We will cooperate with your leadership to support your people, ordinary Belarusians. What is also important is the fact that this cooperation is the key to developing the full potential of relations between the European Union and Belarus.
If I am not mistaken, after the 2015 presidential election, the Belarusian authorities promised to reform the electoral legislation and take significant steps towards democratization in Belarus…
Indeed, the Belarusian authorities have ignored a significant number of OSCE recommendations on the issue of electoral law reforms, as well as those of the Venice Commission. It means that the Belarusian leaders need to immediately take off their coats to the work. Once again, we call on them to do so without wasting time. We hope they realize that further democratic process in the country is impossible without electoral reforms.
Read also: European People’s Party reps doubtful of Belarus MP elections’ transparency (interview)
Full version of the interview is in the video above
