Belarus votes on whether Lukashenko can stand for third term, amid Western concerns
Published:
17 October 2004 y., Sunday
Belarusians were set to cast their ballots Sunday in a constitutional referendum to decide whether their authoritarian leader can run for a third term, amid Western fears of a rigged vote and further diplomatic and economic isolation for the ex-Soviet republic.
Seven million voters, in this impoverished Slavic state of 10 million people on Europe's eastern edge, will also elect a new 110-seat parliament which Lukashenko has already vowed will not include a single foe to his rule.
With many of his enemies in jail, exile, or operating underground, the chances seem high that "batka" -- or "dad" as the former collective farm boss is known by his supporters -- will get his way.
"On October 17, vote FOR Belarus," exhorted the front page of Belarus's state-controlled daily "Sovyetskaya Belorusia" under a huge photograph of a beaming Lukashenko.
The picture showed the president holding a little girl wearing a red scarf reminiscent of the Soviet Union's Communist Youth movement.
It seems a fitting, somewhat vague image for Lukashenko's vision for a country that has struggled to find its identity throughout history, mostly ruled by Russia or other European dynasties.
Šaltinis:
AFP
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.
The most popular articles
EU animal welfare rules must be more rigorously enforced, with more inspections and effective penalties, said the Agriculture Committee on Wednesday.
more »
Fifty-three year old Rasima collects dirt everyday from a paddy field in Indonesia’s east Java province, turning it into a snack made entirely from soil, called "ampo."
more »
At the moment an Argentinian working for a French company in Spain can't travel to France for a meeting on his long-term visa.
more »
An EU-wide strategy is needed to combat violence against women, which must be recognised as a crime, said participants in a European Parliament public hearing with national parliaments and civil society representatives, held on Tuesday to mark International Women's Day.
more »
You know its Tet in Vietnam when Peach and Kumquat orange trees decorate every home, shop and public establishment.
more »
A surveyor has set up his tripod and instruments under a hot tropical sun to measure plots of land in a village where the Dac Kray minority community were settled four years ago.
more »
Japanese men are answering the call of Valentine s Day a month late.
more »
In three urgent resolutions adopted on Thursday, Parliament urges Hamas to release kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, deplores the escalating criminal violence in Mexico and calls on South Korea to scrap the death penalty.
more »
The plight of Europe's 10 million Roma population will fall under the spotlight Tuesday afternoon when MEPs discuss an upcoming Roman summit.
more »
EU Employment and Social Affairs Ministers have today adopted a Directive to prevent injuries and infections to healthcare workers from sharp objects such as needle sticks – one of the most serious health and safety threats in European workplaces and estimated to cause 1 million injuries each year.
more »