CEC: Collection of signatures for Electoral Code amendment “inefficient”

The Secretary of the Central Election Commission on Elections and Referenda Mikalay Lazavik stated that “realization of the legal initiative by citizens is a very long and inefficient way”.

“Even if the initiative group would be registered and collect the needed quantity of signatures, “deputies” of the “chamber of representatives” could fail to include the legislation in the agenda of the session,” M. Lazavik said in an interview to BelaPAN.

At the moment democratic forces of Belarus negotiate an issue of creation of an initiative group which is to collect signatures for changing the electoral code. The United Democratic Forces plan to create a draft law which is to be sent to the “chamber of representatives” in the procedure of legislative initiative realization by citizens.

M. Lazovik believes that it is much more efficient to offer a draft law by “deputies” themselves.

“Even one deputy has a right of legislative initiative. If representatives of political parties can find support of such a deputy, they would be able to make their proposals to be considered quicker,” the CEC Secretary said.

At the same time, M. Lazavik noted that the right of legislative initiative belongs to the citizens according to the Constitution.

“If this initiative would be organized in full correspondence with the law, it would be realized,” the CEC chairman said.

The right of legislative initiative belongs to at least 50,000 Belarusian citizens who have electoral rights. For its realization an initiative group of at least 100 persons should be created. It is to be registered in the CEC.

The CEC not only checks correspondence to the order of an initiative group creation, but forwards the draft law for preparation of a conclusion by the Justice Ministry. After registration by the CEC an initiative group is to introduce a draft law for consideration by the “chamber of representatives”.