The competition for the Vitebsk Regional Council of Deputies elections will be 1.8 candidates per mandate

District election commissions refused to register 14 applicants, and one more potential candidate withdrew their application. The main reason for removal from the election race was the submission of significantly false information in the declaration. Compared to the 2014 campaign, the number of registration refusals has decreased: if today about 11% of applicants did not overcome the registration barrier, then in the previous elections - more than 14%. All six political parties vying for seats in the Regional Council of Deputies have retained their representatives in the race for mandates, but their total number has decreased, with 42 citizens continuing their campaign as candidates. The largest number of them is from the regional organization of the Liberal Democratic Party - 26 people.

In addition, five candidates each are nominated by the Belarusian Left Party "A Just World" and the United Civic Party, three by the Republican Party of Labor and Justice, two by the Communist Party of Belarus, and one by the Belarusian People's Front. Of the deputies of the current convocation, 30 people are running for re-election. Among the candidates are 27 women, two young men, and one citizen of the Russian Federation.

By fields of activity, representatives of industry, transport, and construction (24.3%) as well as education, culture, science, and construction (21.5%) prevail among potential deputies. 9 entrepreneurs, 3 unemployed citizens, and 9 pensioners continue their election campaign. A total of 60 deputies are to be elected to the Vitebsk Regional Council on February 18.

BELTA.