Election in Belarus transparent, complies with constitution - CIS mission

MINSK, October 12. /TASS/. The presidential election in Belarus was transparent, complied with the constitution, election code and democratic principles, head of the CIS' mission of international observers Sergei Lebedev said on Monday presenting the mission's report. "The election has confirmed the support for the country leader," he said. "The people in Belarus voted for stability and peace." Incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko is winning the Belarusian presidential elections with 83.49 percent of the vote, Central Election Commission chief Lidiya Yermoshina said earlier on Monday. A total of 3.32 percent voted for leader of the Liberal Democratic Party Sergey Gaidukevich, 4.42 percent for representative of the "Tell the Truth" civil campaign Tatyana Korotkevich, 1.67 percent for chairman of the Belarusian Patriotic Party Nikolay Ulakhovich; a total of 6.4 percent of Belarusian voters voted against all. In the capital city Minsk, 20.6 percent cast their ballots against all. The voter turnout was 87.2 percent. Thus, 61-year-old Lukashenko will take the office of the Belarusian president for the fifth time. In 1994, Lukashenko was elected head of state gaining 80.3 percent of the vote. In 1996, a referendum extended his powers to 2001, and in 2001, he was re-elected with 75.6 percent of the vote. A 2004 referendum removed the provision of the constitution, which banned from holding the post of the Belarusian president for more than two terms in a row. Lukashenko was re-elected again in 2006 (83 percent) and in 2010 (79.6 percent). Official results of the elections, according to the law, are to be published "not later than 10 days after the end of the vote." Reports on results of presidential elections go from the Central Election Commission to mass media for further publication "not later than three days the protocol on election results is signed." After the official results of the elections are approved, the Belarusian government resigns, the head of state accepts the resignation and then appoints a new government. Inauguration of the Belarusian president elect will take place not later than December 11, 2015, Central Election Commission chief Lidiya Yermoshina told TASS. Earlier, Central Election Commission Secretary Nikolai Lozovik said the commission suggests only a preliminary date, and the final date is to be fixed by the presidential administration later on. Read more