Presidential elections in Belarus will be held on December 19, 2010. MPs of the lower house of the parliament voted for this date today, September 14, at extraordinary session. The fact of elections question included in the agenda became known in less than an hour before the session opened.
Belarusian authorities explained their decision to choose this date for voting by the need to ensure maximum participation of citizens and convenience of the time for the voters. The appointment of elections for January 2011 was considered unsuitable because of large number of religious holidays, AFN informs.
One of the main arguments in favor of voting date appointment for December 19, 2010 instead of January 2011 was possible students’ absence — who pass exams and leave for home — at elections.
There was also expressed an opinion that organization of election campaigning during New Year’s holidays will look a bit ridiculous. 108 MPs supported December 19 as elections date.
