Belarus` further course of development depends on whether the nation finds out actual referendum results :: Charter'97 :: News

Belarus` further course of development depends on whether the nation finds out the actual results of the recent national referendum, said Oleg Manayev, head of the Minsk-based Independent Institute for Social, Economic and Political Studies (IISEPS), while meeting with reporters on Wednesday.

An exit poll conducted by the Gallup Baltic Service during the October 12-17 voting period showed that 48.4 percent of all eligible voters voted to accept Aleksandr Lukashenko`s referendum proposal to remove the constitutional two-term limit on the presidency to allow him to run for reelection. This is not enough for the constitutional limit to be lifted.

According to Dr. Manayev, as many as nearly 19,000 people were interviewed and the poll`s error margin could not exceed one percentage point. "Even if we add this one point to the figure of the Gallup poll, Lukashenko did not win anyway," Dr. Manayev said.

Belarusian society has now split into two equal parts: some 50 percent approve Aleksandr Lukashenko`s policies, and the other half advocate changes, Dr. Manayev concluded. In this situation, he added, it is very important that those who voted against the referendum proposal be aware that they are not a minority. "This determines what way the country is to follow and what decisions the authorities, pro-democracy forces, Russia and the West will make," he noted.

Dr. Manayev suggested that Mr. Lukashenko`s opponents should unite and launch an efficient campaign to inform the public about the actual referendum results.