After the election in Belarus, no opposition politicians are represented in parliament anymore. The 110 elected MPs are members of all parties supporting the government of authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko, according to official election results published today.
The main opposition leaders and the only two opposition politicians in parliament were not admitted to the election yesterday as candidates.
The opposition parties reported nearly 600 irregularities in the election by the end of last night. They criticized that the officials in the polling stations had above all the number of voters higher than counted by election observers.
For a quarter of a century in power
Lukashenko, who has ruled the former Soviet republic authoritarian for a quarter of a century, is often referred to as „Europe’s last dictator.“ No election under him was considered free and fair by international observers. The now elected parliament has de facto only an alibi function, all important decisions are taken by the president personally.
Lukashenko has in recent years endeavored to improve relations with the West, which repeatedly accuses him of ignoring human rights and intimidating the opposition and the media. He seeks a counterbalance to the powerful neighbor Russia, which wants to keep Belarus in its sphere of influence.
