Political Parties in Belarus Consider Elections Tactics
Originally published at Belarus Digest. Please leave any comments there.
Opposition political groupings in Belarus are stepping up preparations for the parliamentary elections, scheduled for 23 September 2012.
An IRI opinion poll figure from February shows that 43 per cent of people believe that in order to solve the economic situation in the country, new people are needed in government. 47 per cent believe that political reform is necessary to achieve this. Meanwhile, 32 per cent say they would vote for the "change candidate" or one not put forward by the state.
These figures underline the tremendous potential opportunity for outreach that the election presents for the opposition, particularly if they can communicate with voters the link between the painful economic situation in the country and the need for increased citizen control over the authorities. The wider public currently sees no alternative to the current regime and is not well informed or supportive of the opposition.
Read the rest of this post