Chamber of Representatives Upheld Changes to Election Laws

According to RFE/RL

Today the Chamber of Representatives has upheld in two readings amendments to the electoral legislation. 103 deputies voted for, 3 – against. The chair of the Central Election Commission Lidziia Iarmoshyna, who explained the necessity of the amendments, pointed at the greatest ones. First of all, it is one-vote election of deputies to local soviets. Now it is enough to have relative majority of votes instead of overwhelming majority to become a deputy. The amendments also concern the organization of outdoor meetings with electors – from now on it is to be regulated by the law on mass actions. It means that organizers of such meetings will have to apply to the local authorities for authorization. One more amendment – it is prohibited to produce any agitation materials concerning elections at all levels outside Belarus.

Besides the electoral code the law On president of the Republic of Belarus is amended. According to the results of the referendum of 17 October 2004 the regulation according to which one person can’t occupy the presidential seat for more than two terms at a run will be excluded from it.