Pro-government Communists changed their leader

Ihar Karpenka, deputy head of the Minsk City Executive Committee, was elected leader of the Communist Party of Belarus (CPB).

“I view my election as first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Belarus as high responsibility for the further progressive development of the party and the strengthening of its reputation and influence in the structure of the state, as well as in the international arena,” said Mr. Karpenka, who succeeded Tatsyana Holubeva. 

“The president of Belarus, Alyaksandr Lukashenka, paid particular attention to the establishment of a party system,” Mr. Karpenka said. “And when we talk about our popularity with the people, we should realize that it is necessary to be associated in people’s minds with a specific action program.” 

While speaking about the recent parliamentary elections, Mr. Karpenka said: “We could see that all liberals and neoliberals used leftist rhetoric in their campaign. This creates problems in the political arena of Belarus. It is necessary to expose this and show the real face of the opposition. During the last presidential and parliamentary campaigns, opponents of the government brought in supporters in the provinces, trying to create the desired picture in support of their candidates and provoke mass riots.”