International observer: Belarus has serious competition in elections

Coming to the polling stations, the experts not only observed the voting process, but also analysed the information about the candidates for deputies. The Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Safeguarding Competition of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, Anton Getta, emphasised that there is a serious struggle for power in this election campaign.

“There were at least three candidates in Minsk for deputies to both the House of Representatives and local councils. Most of these people have higher education, work experience in executive positions and experience in public service. The voters had something to think about, while making their choice,” Anton Getta noted. 

As for holding Single Voting Day, according to the international observer, the process was organised at the highest level within the framework of the legislation of Belarus. 

“Early voting started on February 20th. In addition to voters and commission members, national observers were present at the polling stations. Moreover, interestingly, in Belarus they can be accredited either from public organisations, political parties, collectives, or be ‘self–nominated’, which is a very democratic form of appointing observers, in my opinion,” Anton Getta stated. 

Special attention is paid to voting at the voter's place of residence. 

“Interestingly, there were not many applications for voting at home: Belarusians prefer to cast their vote at polling stations, and among them was even a 90-year-old veteran of the Great Patriotic War. The man came to perform his civic duty in high spirits, he looked energetic and was smiling!” Anton Getta added.