BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

05/07/2006

Number of parties in Belarus to decrease - Gaidukevich

MINSK. July 5 (Interfax) - The number of political parties in Belarus will be significantly reduced in the near future, Belarussian Liberal Democratic Party leader Sergei Gaidukevich said.

There are currently 17 political parties registered in Belarus, but of these "only three or four political parties with certain influence will survive," he told Interfax on Wednesday.

Only "the Belarussian Communist Party, the Liberal Democratic Party and some of the opposition parties" will continue to exist, Gaidukevich said. "As far as the latter are concerned, it is hard to say anything, because the Belarussian People's Front and the United Civil Party are torn by continuous scandals linked to the leadership. Maybe, youth will force the opposition to become one party or union," he said.

The opposition "has no other choice, they understand that it will be hard for them to work in the regions, because of the lack of resources," he said.

"The Communists and the Liberal Democratic party will dominate after the number of parties is reduced and the issue of switching to the mixed electoral system will probably be raised," Gaidukevich said.

"A new political force, similar to the United Russia Party could also be created in Belarus, though this would be premature," he said.

Source:

http://www.interfax.com/3/171958/news.aspx