UCP proposes its leader as potential candidate in 2006 presidential election :: Charter'97 :: News

An overwhelming majority in the United Civic Party (UCP) National Committee voted on February 6 to propose UCP Chairman Anatoly Lebedko as potential democratic candidate for the 2006 presidential election in Belarus. The Committee considered three candidacies, the two other being former Defense Minister Pavel Kozlovsky and Aleksandr Voitovich, ex-chairman of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly. Mr. Lebedko received 64 votes, Mr. Kozlovsky was supported by four Committee members and Dr. Voitovich by just one.

Aleksandr Dobrovolsky, a UCP deputy chairman, said that a single democratic candidate will be selected by the National Congress of Democratic Forces from among potential candidates proposed by opposition parties.

The Congress is expected to convene in May or October, depending on the date of the elections.
Mr. Dobrovolsky said that preference will be given to politicians with greater support of the nation and greater organizational resources.

Mr. Lebedko stressed that parties and organizations that share the platform “Five Steps toward Better Life” should avoid mistakes made by the opposition during the 2001 Presidential Election.
In particular, he said, the single opposition candidate for that election was selected too late and the selection process was not transparent.

He added that he did not favor the nomination procedures proposed for the 2006 elections, but added that Belarusian think tanks and leading analysts have not put forward a better idea.