23-12-2003, 12:55
Belarussian Political Crisis
Background Information to the current Political crisis in Belarus
November 2003: Following Allegations of Curruption and fears about a Dictator like sytem of rule, senior Social Democrats force the resignation of Belarussian President, Vladimir Boyd, by threatening a vote of no confidence.
1st December 2003 The Parliamentry group of the SDP vote Prime Minister Natalya Pertrovich to be their candadte, Mrs Petrovich becomes interim President until an election can be held later in the month.
Natalya Petrovich uses her brief time in office to liberalise the economy and removing some of the restrictions on Private Enterprise, increasing the power of Parliament and the Courts (removing many powers from the Presidents office) and lowering restrictions on claiming asylum.
THE ELECTION
In the days before the election several very damaging stories were reported in the right wing press (and then the rest of the media) including a sex scandle involving a married cabinet minister [name suppressed due to a court injunction] and a prostitute, a fake govt memo about a economic crisis and worst of all the illegal actions of a Belarussian Military Rescue team in KP and the legal fall out...
These were all pounced upon by the right wing anti-immigration nationalist party (the Refrom Party) who sweeped the boards in the Presidential and Parliamentry elections.
ELECTION RESULTS - Presidential
Dr Vladstok - Reform Party - 42% [ELECTED]
Natlalya Petrovich - Social Democrats - 30%
Mikel Chigal - Belarussian Front - 18%
Liz Stovok - Liberal Democrats - 10%
ELECTION RESULTS - Parliamentry
Reform Party of Belarus - 45%
Belarussian Social Democrats - 35%
Liberal Democratic Party - 12%
Belarussian Front Party - 5%
Communist Party - 3 %
The result of the election wasn't the only shock that Belarussians had when they woke - the Reform Party anouced that it was to start deporting refugees (just as soon as the courts would learn to do as they're told) and planned to abolish the tax burden by abolishing most of the welfare state...
Angry Belarussians took to the streets in their masses (Between 1-2 million protested) and amougst their chants was
Left and Right together, we shall not be moved.
http://www.angelfire.com/hi5/kafirdomunity/8865883.jpg
http://www.angelfire.com/hi5/kafirdomunity/8865887.jpg
http://www.angelfire.com/hi5/kafirdomunity/8865888.jpg
Following these protests the three main opposition parties (SDP, CP and LDP) released statements opposing the Reform Party government and vowed to oppose their ministerial apointments and legislation agenda when Parliament resumes before Christmas in January. These oppostion parties called for the Reform party to resign and call fresh elections as they will unable to do anything without the required 50% + 1 votes in Parliament (The United Oppostion parties have 50% of the vote, and even if the Belarussian Front join the Reform party, Parliament would be split 50-50)
THE NEW YEAR WILL BE CAOS FOR MPs - MERRY CHRISTMAS
(N.B. Belarus is a Russian Orthadox Church nation and thus Xmas is on January 7th)
Background Information to the current Political crisis in Belarus
November 2003: Following Allegations of Curruption and fears about a Dictator like sytem of rule, senior Social Democrats force the resignation of Belarussian President, Vladimir Boyd, by threatening a vote of no confidence.
1st December 2003 The Parliamentry group of the SDP vote Prime Minister Natalya Pertrovich to be their candadte, Mrs Petrovich becomes interim President until an election can be held later in the month.
Natalya Petrovich uses her brief time in office to liberalise the economy and removing some of the restrictions on Private Enterprise, increasing the power of Parliament and the Courts (removing many powers from the Presidents office) and lowering restrictions on claiming asylum.
THE ELECTION
In the days before the election several very damaging stories were reported in the right wing press (and then the rest of the media) including a sex scandle involving a married cabinet minister [name suppressed due to a court injunction] and a prostitute, a fake govt memo about a economic crisis and worst of all the illegal actions of a Belarussian Military Rescue team in KP and the legal fall out...
These were all pounced upon by the right wing anti-immigration nationalist party (the Refrom Party) who sweeped the boards in the Presidential and Parliamentry elections.
ELECTION RESULTS - Presidential
Dr Vladstok - Reform Party - 42% [ELECTED]
Natlalya Petrovich - Social Democrats - 30%
Mikel Chigal - Belarussian Front - 18%
Liz Stovok - Liberal Democrats - 10%
ELECTION RESULTS - Parliamentry
Reform Party of Belarus - 45%
Belarussian Social Democrats - 35%
Liberal Democratic Party - 12%
Belarussian Front Party - 5%
Communist Party - 3 %
The result of the election wasn't the only shock that Belarussians had when they woke - the Reform Party anouced that it was to start deporting refugees (just as soon as the courts would learn to do as they're told) and planned to abolish the tax burden by abolishing most of the welfare state...
Angry Belarussians took to the streets in their masses (Between 1-2 million protested) and amougst their chants was
Left and Right together, we shall not be moved.
http://www.angelfire.com/hi5/kafirdomunity/8865883.jpg
http://www.angelfire.com/hi5/kafirdomunity/8865887.jpg
http://www.angelfire.com/hi5/kafirdomunity/8865888.jpg
Following these protests the three main opposition parties (SDP, CP and LDP) released statements opposing the Reform Party government and vowed to oppose their ministerial apointments and legislation agenda when Parliament resumes before Christmas in January. These oppostion parties called for the Reform party to resign and call fresh elections as they will unable to do anything without the required 50% + 1 votes in Parliament (The United Oppostion parties have 50% of the vote, and even if the Belarussian Front join the Reform party, Parliament would be split 50-50)
THE NEW YEAR WILL BE CAOS FOR MPs - MERRY CHRISTMAS
(N.B. Belarus is a Russian Orthadox Church nation and thus Xmas is on January 7th)