Electoral type events

[Crumpets]

If Lukashenka decides to run (which it looks like he's planning to) he will win easily. The only question would be whether he breaks 80% of the vote. The interesting things to watch would be 1) who comes in second, 2) whether mass protests break out when the results are announced as they did in 2006 and 2010, and 3) what group mainly participates in those protests (leftists? hard-core pro-Russians? right-wing Belarusian nationalists?)

Lukashenka has basically completely rewritten his agenda since taking office in the 90s from one of Russian integration to one of stubborn anti-Russian and anti-western Belarusian nationalism. And surprisingly, he has been a close ally of Poroshenko during the Donbass conflict. Yet, he maintains basically the same (largely pro-Russian) voting base, and it will be interesting to see how well they have accepted his about-face.

And yes, Belarus is an authoritarian country, and one should not look too much into the results as representing the country as a whole, but it's certainly much closer to Russia or Egypt in terms of democracy than North Korea or Zimbabwe. The results will be interesting to see, even if the conclusion is foregone.

[Crumpets]

Seven candidates for candidating are registered by Central Electoral Committee of Belarus. On Monday lists were closed and now candidates must collect 100 000 signatures of Belarusian citizens.

Candidates are:

Aleksandar Lukashenka (the best president ever)
Anatoly Lebedko (United Civic Party of Belarus, center-right)
Siarhiej Kaliakin (Belarusian Left Party "A Just World", eurocommies/left)
Sergei Gaidukevich [Liberal Democratic Party (Belarussian counterpart of Zhirinovsky party)
Viktor Tereshchenko (nonpartisan, economist)
Joanna (Жанна) Ramanouska (non-partisan, teacher)
Mikalay Uahovitch (non-partisan, Belarussian cossacks leader - lol)

I hope that Lukashenka will destroy those weaklings.

Lol. I can't imagine how horrifying they must be.

[Crumpets]

Lukashenko gave few days ago first interview since like 14 or 15 years to the opposition media and there are some interesting things from the interview:
-candidate from previous presidential elections Mikola Statkevich may be reprieved from penal colony before presidential elections.
- he stated that Ukraine will keep Donbas
- he said that Belarusian airforces are strong enough and there is no need for Russian bases on Belarusian territory.
- he was sceptical about Russian current foreign policy ideas and expansionism
- he said that he now speaks more Belarusian with his youngest son

Which group did he talk to? I'd love to watch it.

[Crumpets]

http://www.svaboda.org/content/article/27170361.html
http://www.svaboda.org/content/article/27168922.html

Thanks!

[Crumpets]

Here are Belarus's provisional results according to BelTA:

Alexander Lukashenko (Independent) - 83.49%
Tatiana Korotkevich (Social Democrat, opposition activist) - 4.42%
Sergei Gaidukevich (Zhirinovsky-type) - 3.32%
Nikolai Ulakhovich (?pro-capitalism?) - 1.67%
Other/NOTA - 7.10%