A reduction in deputy mandates is expected in the Vitebsk region in the upcoming election campaign

This week, an approximate date for the elections to local Councils of Deputies became known, and the election campaign should start no later than December 24, after the issuance of the relevant decree by the head of state. In the Vitebsk region, the number of people's representatives in the representative bodies of power of the twenty-sixth convocation will be reduced as a result of the adjustment of the administrative-territorial structure.

As reported by the press service of the President of the Republic of Belarus, following a working meeting with the Chairperson of the Central Election Commission, Lidia Yermoshina, held on December 2, Alexander Lukashenko approved the proposal to hold local elections on March 23 next year.

According to the Department of Organizational and Personnel Work of the Regional Executive Committee, in the upcoming campaign in the Vitebsk region, 3218 deputies are to be elected, of which 2329 are for rural and settlement Councils. The total number of mandates will decrease by approximately 8.8% compared to the local elections in 2010, only their number in the Regional Council (60) will remain unchanged. In rural and settlement Councils, there will be 233 fewer seats (or 9% less), and in city Councils, 62 fewer seats (almost 32% less).

The reduction in deputy mandates is due to the merger of the representative bodies of power of Polotsk and Orsha with the corresponding district Councils, as well as the abolition of several rural and settlement Councils, caused by the need to enlarge administrative units and bring their structure into compliance with the law. Thus, the total number of local Councils has decreased by 6.7% to 224. Voters will have to form the regional Council, 21 district Councils, 5 city Councils in cities of regional and district subordination, and 197 rural and settlement Councils.

The upcoming election campaign will have a number of features compared to the previous one. According to the Law "On Amendments and Additions to Certain Laws of the Republic of Belarus on Elections and Referendums," which will come into force in December 2013, candidates for deputies gained the right to form their election funds. A contender for a deputy mandate will be able to run in only one constituency. Candidates will be obliged to disclose all criminal convictions they have had, even if they have been expunged or removed. In addition, those who do not have official sources of income will indicate in their income and property declaration the source by which they subsist. Also, during the election campaign, a norm prohibiting campaigning for a boycott of the elections will come into effect.

Sergey Kochetov, "Vitebskiye Vesti"