Election congress of the United Civil Party (UCP) has been held in Minsk. Congress delegates discussed two questions – who to put forward as the party candidates in the parliamentary elections and who will run the UCP in the next two years.
Lyabedzka remains leader
The answer to the second question was predictable – party members did not want to change the leader in the midst of the political campaign. Although this time, unlike the previous Congress, elections of the Chairman were held on an alternative basis, there even was an intrigue.
Chairman of the United Civil Party Anatol Lyabedzka who has been heading the United Civil Party since April 2000 was reelected. In total 93 delegates took part in the secret ballot. Lyabedzka’s re-election was supported by 49 people, his deputy Vasil Palyakou received 37 votes. Four delegates voted against all, three ballots were declared invalid.
Apart from Lyabedzka and Palyakou, Hennady Ananieu and Leu Marholin also ran fro the position of Chairman but later withdrew from the race.
Even before the vote Vasil Palyakou noted that he “realistically assessed his chances” and that “in any case he will make an effort for the UCP team to stay together and only become stronger”.
“We need to be ready for the new challenges so that the UCP was a team of professionals who would be competitive in the new political environment,” said Palyakou.
Anatol Lyabedzka, in turn, noted that he was glad there was an alternative vote and said that “if not now, then after two years the party must have a new Chairman”.
On June 27, Anatol Lyabedzka turned 55 years old. He graduated from the Faculty of History and French at the Minsk Pedagogical Institute and the Faculty of Law of the Belarusian State University, he was a member of the 12th and 13th convocations of the Supreme Council of Belarus.
Seventy people aiming for parliament
The congress nominated 70 potential candidates for the House of Representatives. Among the potential candidates are Iryna Yaskevich, Mikalai Ulasevich, Aleh Zhalnou, Yury Khashchavatski, Mikalai Kazlou, Volha Mayorava and others.
The UCP Chairman Anatol Lyabedzka will not be running for Parliament. “I have another function during this election — to be a member of the initiative groups of all our candidates, and later — their proxy. This expands the geography and efficiency of participation,” the politician had said earlier.
Among the potential candidates nominated by the UCP Congress are about 30 representatives of the Organizing Committee of the Belarusian Christian Democracy party, including Tatsyana Sevyarynets, Volha Kavalkova, Maryna Khomich and others. As co-chairman of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Vital Rymasheuski explained at the Congress, during the election campaign they will appear as the UCP members.
UCP, BCD and the Movement “For Freedom” that are members of the center-right coalition will take part in the parliamentary elections under a common list of candidates.
