Lukashenka to Europeans: Never in my life!

On the eve of adopting a decision on extending sanctions against Belarusian officials by the European Union, Alyaksandr Lukashenka stated that elections in Belarus should be held as before.

Obviously to throw dust in Europeans’ eyes once again, the Belarusian leader decided to hold a so-called “consultation on improvement of the electoral laws” on November 10. However right in the beginning of the consultation he dotted all the i's and crossed all the t's. mentioning requirements of the European Union to change the electoral code of Belarus and hold free and democratic election, Lukashenka stated: “I have said that several times, it is counterproductive to put pressure on us”.

And the farther into the forest, the thicker the trees. “Improvement of the electoral process should not have a negative impact on situation manageability in the country,” the dictator stated.

As said by him, “some people treat the necessity to change the electoral legislation as fulfilment of demands of the European Union on political liberalization of Belarus”.

To answer those “some people”, Lukashenka stated that “the liberalization of election laws will not lead to political turmoil and anarchy during the forthcoming election campaigns”.

“I would like to warn you that discussions about the possibility of these changes should not launch some political saber rattling campaigns… The election must be held calmly, as they are always held here. Don’t pay attention to the squeaking and shrieking inside and outside the country. We should just calmly do our work,” he said.

That’s Lukashenka’s answer to the naïve appeals of European officials for democratization. It was possible to make changes in the electoral legislation long ago. Demands of the world community and Belarusian democrats are simple – not to hinder registration and campaign of opposition candidates, to allow representatives of oppositional political parties and public associations become members of electoral commissions of all levels, for them t be able to participate in vote count; and not to hinder the work of independent observers. However Lukashenka continues to sell the decrepit horse called “liberalization” to the simple-hearted West.